The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted round-the-clock aerial firefighting operations to contain a major forest fire near Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh, deploying Mi-17 V5 medium-lift helicopters under the aid to civil authorities framework.
The operation began after the IAF received information about the forest fire near Kasauli on 26 May.
A Cheetah helicopter was immediately launched to assess the situation, following which Mi-17 V5 helicopters were pressed into service for firefighting operations.
The blaze had spread across nearly 10 hectares in the Kasauli Beat area of Solan district.
It posed a serious threat to residential areas, critical civil infrastructure and military establishments, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Working in close coordination with the state administration, state forest department, Indian Army and local authorities, IAF helicopters carried out sustained Bambi Bucket operations to contain and extinguish the fire.
Water for the operation was sourced from Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh.
Each sortie carried around 2,000 to 2,500 litres of water, which was dropped over the affected areas.
The firefighting effort continued through day and night, with more than 93,000 litres of water discharged over the fire-hit region.
The swift response helped prevent the blaze from escalating into a major disaster.
In a first for the Indian Air Force, night Bambi Bucket operations were carried out successfully using Night Vision Goggles.
The missions were conducted in mountainous terrain and under difficult visibility conditions, requiring high levels of flying skill, precision and operational expertise.
Despite the risks involved in night firefighting operations, the missions were completed safely and effectively.
Ground personnel also worked in extreme weather conditions to ensure rapid aircraft servicing and turnaround, enabling uninterrupted operations throughout the firefighting effort.
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