iaf-choppers-drop-1-62-lakh-litres-to-douse-arunachal-fire

Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters carried out an intensive four-day operation to help contain a forest fire in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district, flying 54 sorties and dropping around 1.62 lakh litres of water over affected areas, officials said on Thursday.

The aerial firefighting operation began on March 8 after the East Siang district administration reported the spread of the blaze in the Mebo circle and sought helicopter support.

Following the request, the state civil aviation department approached the Ministry of Defence and the IAF’s Eastern Air Command, after which the helicopters were deployed. The operation began with aerial reconnaissance of the affected areas and trial lifting of water before full-scale water-dropping missions were undertaken.

According to a press statement issued by state disaster management secretary Dani Sulu, helicopters lifted water from the Siang River and released it over interior forest stretches as well as locations close to human settlements.

Also read: Massive forest fire approaches key border outposts in Arunachal

The operation concluded on Thursday and was supported on the ground by teams from the district administration, the incident command unit at Mebo, the state civil aviation department, fire and emergency services, and disaster management authorities, along with personnel from the nearby Sigar Military Station.

Firefighting teams from neighbouring districts also joined the effort. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Assam Fire and Emergency Services, and community volunteers including Aapda Mitras and villagers led by gaon buras worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to inhabited areas.

Authorities had also requisitioned an additional team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on March 10 as a precautionary measure in case the
situation deteriorated.

Officials said the fire affected about 140 hectares of reserve forest and nearly 200 hectares of community forest, agricultural and horticultural land in Sigar, Ralling and Mebo areas under the Mebo sub-division.

No human casualties or livestock losses have been reported. Authorities said the fire has been brought largely under control due to coordinated efforts by multiple agencies and heavy rainfall in East Siang on Wednesday night.