The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Tamil Nadu): The Indian Air Force (IAF) has intensified its aerial firefighting operations in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district, where raging forest fires have been wreaking havoc for several days. Collaborating with the forest department and state administration, the IAF has deployed its formidable Mi-17 V5 helicopters to undertake multiple Bambi Bucket operations, discharging over 16,000 litres of water in a concerted effort to douse the flames.
The IAF’s timely intervention comes as a much-needed reinforcement to the ongoing firefighting efforts on the ground, where over 150 forest department personnel have been engaged in a relentless battle to contain the blaze. The aerial operations have provided a critical boost to the containment efforts, allowing for the targeted dispersal of water from the skies onto the smouldering patches of forest.
Providing updates on the unfolding operations, the IAF took to social media, stating, “Continuing its firefighting efforts to douse the raging forest fire in the Nilgiris, the IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopters undertook multiple Bambi Bucket Operations. Operating since first light, the helicopters discharged over 16,000 litres of water to control the spread of the fire, in collaboration with the forest department and state administration.”
The deployment of the IAF’s aerial assets underscores the severity of the situation in the Nilgiris, a region renowned for its picturesque landscapes, sprawling tea plantations, and rich biodiversity. The forest fires, fuelled by a combination of soaring summer temperatures and a lack of rainfall, have threatened to decimate vast swaths of the region’s verdant forests, including non-native cypress tree patches.
According to district forest officer S. Gowtham, the fire had been spreading through a patch of cypress trees, a non-native species in the Nilgiris landscape, destroying an estimated 20-30 hectares of non-native forest. “The fuel load is quite high due to many wind-fallen trees, which, combined with a lack of access to the area, is leading to difficulties in containing the fire,” Gowtham stated.
The Mi-17 V5 helicopters, operating out of the Air Force Station Sulur near Coimbatore, have been instrumental in the aerial firefighting operations. These versatile workhorses are equipped with the specialized Bambi Bucket apparatus, which allows for the transport and precise dispersal of large volumes of water over the affected areas.
“In response to the forest fire spreading through the Nilgiri District, IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopters from Air Force Station Sulur were launched to conduct Bambi Bucket Operations,” the IAF revealed. “Airborne, after a request from the Tamil Nadu State Administration, the helicopters undertook the firefighting operations, discharging over 8,000 litres of water over the affected regions.”
The aerial operations have not only bolstered the ongoing firefighting efforts but have also provided much-needed respite to the ground crews, who have been battling the blaze under gruelling conditions. The inaccessibility of the affected areas, compounded by the presence of wind-fallen trees, has posed significant challenges for the firefighters, necessitating the deployment of aerial assets.
As the firefighting efforts intensify, officials from the forest department and state administration have expressed cautious optimism about containing the fire’s spread. However, they have also emphasized the need for continued vigilance and sustained efforts until the fire is completely extinguished.
“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,” Gowtham stated, highlighting the challenges posed by the region’s high fuel load and the lack of accessibility to certain areas.