Uttarakhand Forest Fire: Massive Blaze Rages On In Nainital, Indian Air Force Deploys MI-17 Choppers For Relief Ops

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• Apr 27, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

In an effort to confine and ultimately put out the raging forest fire, officials said that IAF choppers are taking water from the neighboring Bhimtal Lake in Nainital and spraying it in the area.

Digital Desk: Over the past three days, a forest fire has been spreading through the dense foliage in the mountains surrounding Nainital, an official stated. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also been responding to the fire by sending soldiers and MI-17 helicopters to douse the blaze in the area.

In an effort to confine and ultimately put out the raging forest fire, officials said that IAF choppers are taking water from the neighboring Bhimtal Lake in Nainital and spraying it in the are

After an airborne inspection, Rahul Anand, the executive officer of Nainital Nagar Palika, told ANI that MI-17 helicopters are jet-spraying on the affected regions due to the raging forest fire.

"I carried out an aerial inspection and can confirm IAF choppers have been involved in firefighting operations in the affected forests since this morning," Anand stated. 

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Nevertheless, the fire has already destroyed several hectares of the forested area and the leaping flames have not yet been completely contained, despite the continuous efforts of the forest department and the firefighting IAF troops.

Official Statements 

The official stated that IAF helicopters surveyed the lakes of Nainital, Bhimtal, and Sattal from the air, finding good places to lift water for the dousing operation. Up until the most recent reports, the choppers were pouring water over the endangered forests surrounding Nainital with bags and buckets suspended on a rope. We anticipate further updates.

A large fire occurred earlier on Friday night in the Ladiyakata neighborhood of the Nainital Air Force Center.

Ground troops have been fighting the fire in the Ladiyakata section of the Nainital Air Force Centre since Friday night in addition to the helicopter-based firefighting operations. 

The army joined the never-ending battle to contain the expanding fires, amid heroic efforts by the forest department and firefighting staff.