India, March 10 -- Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday said the forest fires in recent years which destroyed an extensive area of the state's scenic Dzukou valley from 2023 were mainly due to human errors.

Major forest fires have occurred in the pristine valley in December last year and mid January till February, posing a significant risk to the region's ecology and wildlife.

Rio told the state assembly that no individual has been identified or apprehended as responsible for the forest fires so far.

The CM was responding to a starred question raised by Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MLA Naiba Konyak from Tobu constituency at the ongoing first phase of the state budget session.

On measures taken to prevent forest fires on t...