Forest Fire Havoc Back in Arunachal Pradesh

May 14, 2026

Forest fires are not new to Arunachal Pradesh. But this year, the flames lasted longer, spread faster and caused wider damage than in recent years. In February 2026, forest fires spread across the hills of Mebo in Arunachal, burning forests, plantations and agricultural land. For Makbul Lego, a farmer from Siluk village in the Mebo subdivision of East Siang district, the fire first consumed his orange orchard before climbing uphill towards his other horticultural plantation. According to Fire and Emergency Services data, Arunachal Pradesh recorded 461 fire calls between 1 January and 27 April 2026, of which 323 were classified as forest fires. The highest number of forest fire cases was reported from Roing, with 71 incidents, followed by Pasighat with 50 and Namsai with 47. Nearby areas also saw repeated fire outbreaks through the dry months. While forest fires are not uncommon in Arunachal Pradesh, this year’s season stood out for its intensity, duration and spread. In several districts, fires burned continuously for days, threatening villages, military stations and government institutions. There were military stations and several important institutional points nearby, so because of that the matter became even more serious. Fires in the Mebo subdivision of East Siang district continued for nearly five days. Helicopters were deployed for aerial water-dropping operations, while drone surveillance was used to identify severely affected zones. Despite the scale of the fires, officials said no houses were destroyed in the Mebo subdivision. However, agricultural and cultivation losses were reported, though detailed assessments are still being prepared. In Roing, the district headquarters of Lower Dibang Valley, the fires lasted even longer. This time the situation lasted for almost a month. Compared to the last two or three years, the forest fires were much more severe in our district. Multiple fires were often reported simultaneously in different locations on the same day. One major fire reportedly continued for nearly 11 to 12 days in phases before being fully controlled. The fires damaged vegetation, bamboo plantations and crops across affected areas. Yet officials said the situation could have become significantly worse had response teams failed to contain the flames before they reached nearby settlements and government infrastructure.