The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday deployed a Mil Mi-17 helicopter to tackle a major forest fire in the Mebo and Sigar areas near Pasighat.
During the aerial firefighting operation, the helicopter released around 66,000 litres of water through multiple sorties in an effort to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby habitations.
Rapid Response to Control Fire
In a post shared on X, the Indian Air Force highlighted the scale of the fire and the swift response by its personnel. Images and videos posted by the force showed the helicopter carrying out repeated water-dropping missions over the affected forest areas.
The IAF said the helicopter undertook several sorties to drop water on the flames, demonstrating rapid operational response and coordination in tackling the emergency.
“IAF demonstrated rapid response and operational precision in Arunachal Pradesh, deploying a Mi-17 V5 helicopter to battle a major forest fire in the Mebo and Sigar areas of Pasighat,” the force said in the post.
The aerial operation helped reduce the intensity of the fire and limit its spread across the forested terrain.
Previous Firefighting Operations in Northeast
Earlier, on February 18, the Indian Air Force had also conducted similar firefighting missions in the northeastern region. In Walong, IAF helicopters successfully brought a large wildfire under control by dropping nearly 139,800 litres of water over the affected area.
These operations highlight the critical role played by the Indian Air Force in supporting civil authorities during natural disasters and emergencies, especially in remote and difficult terrain.
Joint Military Exercise Conducted
Separately, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army recently carried out a joint exercise over Tehri Lake on March 8.
During the exercise, troops performed combat free-fall jumps and static line para-drops, showcasing coordination between the two services and strengthening inter-service operational synergy.
The exercise was aimed at enhancing readiness and demonstrating the armed forces’ ability to conduct coordinated airborne operations when required.
