Massive Fire at Mpeikau Pahar Near Laisong Village Rages for Second Day, Wildlife Habitat Razed

Hills Live Desk

Haflong, Feb 15:

A devastating fire that broke out at Mpeikau Pahar near Laisong village in Dima Hasao on Saturday afternoon continued to rage into Sunday, causing panic among residents and destroying large swathes of forestland.

According to local sources, the blaze began when workers of APPL, a construction firm engaged in the Mahur–Tamenglong highway project, were drilling a hole to install landslide protection nets. The fire quickly spread across the hillock, engulfing the surrounding forest area. Villagers rushed to the site and attempted to control the flames with limited resources before fire tenders arrived. Despite several hours of effort, fire and emergency services struggled to bring the situation under control.

One worker from APPL, Rongmei Zet, sustained injuries while trying to douse the flames and was admitted to Haflong Civil Hospital.

Mpeikau Pahar, known as the habitat of several species including the Serrow, has been severely affected, with much of its wildlife forced to flee to safer areas. Residents, who have long taken pride in protecting the biodiversity of the region, expressed deep concern over the destruction of the habitat.

The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of rural settlements and forested areas to fire hazards, particularly during dry weather conditions. Locals have urged the administration to strengthen preventive measures, enforce stricter safety protocols for construction activities, and improve emergency response facilities in remote parts of the district.

More information is awaited as the fire continues to spread at the time of filing this report.