New Delhi: The Indian Air Force carried out a major firefighting operation in Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday, deploying a Mil Mi-17V-5 helicopter to battle a large forest fire in the Mebo and Sigar areas.
During the operation, the helicopter released around 66,000 litres of water over multiple sorties in an effort to control the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby settlements. Visuals shared by the Air Force showed thick smoke rising from the affected forest areas while the helicopter conducted aerial water drops to contain the blaze.
In a statement on social media, the Air Force highlighted the swift response and precision of the operation. It noted that the mission was carried out to limit damage to forests and safeguard nearby habitations threatened by the spreading fire.
The firefighting effort follows another major operation in the region earlier this year. On February 18, Air Force helicopters were deployed to tackle wildfires in two separate locations in northeastern India. In one such operation in Walong in Arunachal Pradesh, helicopters successfully extinguished a major blaze after dropping nearly 1,39,800 litres of water over the affected area.
Apart from disaster response operations, the Air Force has also been conducting joint training exercises with the Indian Army to strengthen operational coordination.
On March 8, aircraft from the Air Force carried out combat free fall and static line parachute drops over Tehri Lake in Uttarakhand as part of a joint exercise with the Army. The drill demonstrated the ability of the two forces to work together effectively during complex missions and highlighted their operational preparedness.
The recent firefighting missions underline the Air Force’s crucial role not only in defence operations but also in providing rapid assistance during natural disasters and emergencies across difficult terrain.
