No.109/2021-2022

Aizawl, the 5th May 2021 : The Chief Secretary in his capacity as Chairman, State Executive Committee, Mizoram State Disaster Management Authority today issued a notification constituting a State Level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the series of major fire outbreaks which occurred across many places in the state from 24th April 2021 and onwards. According to the notification, the team is to submit its recommendation within 2 months to the Government. The notification also instructed all Departments and Government offices from which the Special Investigation Team requires information and cooperation to provide the same without delay.

According to the notification, the SIT will comprise of Shri R.S. Sinha, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration) as Chairman; Pu C. Lalthanmawia, MPS, Director, Fire & Emergency Services and Pu. J Lalthafamkima Jongte, MPS, AIG (Ops), Police Headquarters as Members and Pu John LT Sanga, MCS, Director, Disaster Management & Rehabilitation as Member Secretary.

The State Level SIT will also examine the rules, laws, regulations and modalities currently in place so as to discover lacunae in the current system in order to effectively mitigate similar catastrophes in future. The SIT will make its report after thoroughly examining and collating information from all concerned Departments/DDMAs, NGOs, volunteers involved in the containment efforts and eye witness accounts.

According to the notification, the terms of reference of the State Level Special Investigation Team are as below-

a) To find out reason and causes of the outbreak of fire.

b) To assess the extent of damages caused by the fire.

c) To examine and document the various means deployed for control and containment of the fires.

d) To examine the existing provisions of laws, instructions and institutions in place to mitigate, prevent and respond to fires and to recommend any modifications or supplements that may be needed.

e) To make recommendation for measures, modalities, regulations etc. that may be put in place to avoid outbreak of the fire in the future.

f) The District Administration and Investigation Teams constituted at District levels by the Deputy Commissioners shall render all necessary support to the Special Investigation Team.

The recent devastating outbreak of fire from 24th April 2010 onwards in different Districts of the Mizoram decimated several acres of valuable forest areas, farmlands and private properties. As fires continue to pose a direct threat to human settlements, farms, wildlife and forest resources, there is an urgent need to investigate the causes, extent of damages and effectiveness of containment measures being deployed, the notification outlined.