Shimla, May 27 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed Mi-17 helicopters to assist in the firefighting operations in the popular hill destination Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh and controlled the massive forest fire erupted owing to long dry spell by using Bambi buckets, officials said on Wednesday.

However, no loss of life or injuries has been reported among civilians or responders. The helicopters lifted water from the rain-fed Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh using bambi buckets and carried out night operations with crew using night vision goggles, an IAF statement said, adding “over 15 shuttles, more than 40,000 litres of water have already been dropped on the fire zone”.

Subdivisional Magistrate (Kasauli) Mahinder Chauhan told the media that multiple fires have been reported, prompting deployment of fire-tenders.

In a sustained overnight operation lasting over 15 hours and continuing into the day, the Indian Army, in close coordination with the Indian Air Force, civil officials of both Kasauli and the Chandigarh administration, and other local agencies, has successfully contained a major forest fire that erupted in the Gilbert Trail and Upper Mall area on the western slopes of Kasauli.

Following the outbreak of the fire at around 3 p.m. on May 26, the Indian Army’s Kasauli Brigade launched an immediate and coordinated response to prevent the blaze from spreading across the densely forested and difficult terrain.

The operation involved extensive ground firefighting efforts by army troops, fire- tenders and water carriers, alongside aerial firefighting missions by IAF helicopters undertaking multiple Bambi Bucket sorties using water from the Sukhna Lake.

The IAF said the combined efforts significantly contained the fire in key affected areas, while preventing its spread into vulnerable forest zones.

Army personnel, including both combatant and non-combatant staff, continue to operate under challenging conditions, creating firebreaks, isolating vulnerable pockets and dousing residual hotspots to prevent flare-ups.

Aerial firefighting operations are continuing over inaccessible stretches. All personnel and equipment deployed in the operation remain safe, it said.

Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh, Army Commander, Western Command, visited the affected area to review the ongoing operations and assess the situation on ground. He commended the personnel for their swift response, courage and relentless efforts under extremely challenging conditions.

The operation once again underscores the Indian armed forces’ high state of operational readiness, inter-agency coordination and unwavering commitment towards safeguarding lives, property and the environment during natural emergencies and humanitarian contingencies.

According to the state Forest Department, 22 per cent or 8,267 sq km of the total forest area in the state is fire prone.

A majority of the fires are reported from the pine forests as during summer the trees shed pine needles that are highly inflammable. The pine forest is found up to an altitude of 5,500 feet.

–IANS

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