IAF Helicopters Discharge Over 16,000 Litres Of Water To Douse Forest Fires In Nilgiris

Nilgiris Forest Fire: The IAF deployed AF Mi-17 V5 helicopters to undertake multiple Bambi Bucket operations to douse raging forest fires in the Nilgiris.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has stepped in to aid firefighting efforts in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris, deploying AF Mi-17 V5 helicopters to undertake multiple Bambi Bucket operations to douse raging forest fires in the region. Collaborating with the forest department and state administration, the IAF helicopters discharged over 16,000 litres of water to control the spread of the fire.

Taking to its social media handle, the IAF provided updates on its firefighting efforts, stating, "Continuing its firefighting efforts to douse the raging forest fire in the Nilgiris, the IAF Mi-17 V5 heptrs undertook multiple Bambi Bucket Operations. Operating since first light, the heptrs discharged over 16000 litres of water to control the spread of the fire, in collaboration with the forest deptt and state admin."

The helicopter operated since the early hours, discharging water to control the spread of the fire, in collaboration with the forest department and state administration.

Air Force station Sulur, located near Coimbatore, was assigned the task, following which the Mi-17 V5 helicopter equipped with a Bambi Bucket was dispatched from there. The Bambi Bucket, a specialised apparatus utilised by the Mi-17 V5 helicopter, facilitates the transport of a large volume of water underneath the aircraft, enabling effective dispersal over the affected areas.

Around 20-30 Hectares Of Non-Native Forest Destroyed, Official Says

According to a report by The Hindu on March 15, more than 150 Forest Department personnel from various divisions have been deployed in Coonoor to combat the forest fire near Black Bridge in the Nilgiris forest division, which had been spreading for the past four days at that time.

District Forest Officer S. Gowtham stated that the fire was spreading among a patch of cypress trees, non-native to the Nilgiris landscape, estimating that around 20-30 hectares of non-native forest had been destroyed.

“The fuel load is quite high due to many wind-fallen trees, which, combined with lack of access to the area is leading to difficulties in containing the fire,” he said, as quoted by the report.

Efforts to contain the fire will continue until the fuel load depletes, and the fire eventually fizzles out due to a lack of combustible material. The unusually high summer temperatures, combined with a lack of rainfall this year, have contributed to the scale of the fire, the report cited officials as saying.

Forest Department personnel from other divisions will be assisting the personnel already on the ground to extinguish the fire, while officials work to prevent communities living near reserve forests from starting fires for clearing agricultural and pastoral land, it further stated.