Indian Air Force Helicopters Combat Kasauli Forest Fire
At least two Mi-17 helicopters joined firefighting efforts as officials said multiple blazes damaged wooden shops and forest areas, with no casualties reported.
- On Tuesday, extreme heat sparked a major forest fire in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district, prompting the Indian Air Force to deploy Mi-17 helicopters to combat blazes spreading across Kasauli's Dharampur-Sanawar and Garkhal areas.
- Chir pine forests dominating the Himalayan belt shed massive quantities of dry needles called Pirul in summer, whose resinous composition ignites easily from small sparks as climate change worsens wildfire frequency and scale.
- Multiple fire sites erupted across the region, with Sanawar burning uncontrollably Monday evening and Mandhodhar village on the Dharampur-Kasauli road requiring over two-and-a-half hours to extinguish, while Army troops from Kasauli's Brigade joined aerial operations lifting water from Sukhna Lake.
- Sub-Fire Officer Bhagat Ram Thakur reported the fire extinguished completely, with investigations continuing into the exact cause, though no casualties were reported despite thick smoke threatening nearby hotels and residential areas.
- The Kasauli fires reflect a broader regional pattern, with Uttarakhand experiencing around 400 incidents and multiple fire-prone areas across both states, as officials hope cooler weather or rain provides relief while long-term prevention requires forest management and ecological restoration under recent provisions.
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Forest fires sweep across Uttarakhand, Himachal and J-K; Army, IAF launch massive dousing operation
Raging forest fires across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir have prompted large-scale rescue and firefighting operations, with emergency teams battling flames spreading rapidly through forests and reaching residential pockets in several regions. In Himachal Pradesh, thick flames engulfed hillsides in Kasauli and Solan, forcing authorities to intensify efforts to stop the fire from spreading towards populated and herit…
Himachal Pradesh Fire: On average, 5,000 to 10,000 hectares of forest land in Himachal Pradesh are affected by fires. These incidents cause significant damage to valuable forest resources, plants, rare herbs, and wildlife.
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Times of IndiaHeatwave sparks massive fire in Himachal forests; IAF helicopters deployed
Indian Air Force helicopters are battling a major forest fire in Himachal Pradesh's Kasauli. Mi-17 and Chinook choppers are dousing flames in inaccessible areas, even ferrying water from Sukhna Lake. Thick smoke billowed from the scenic town's forests, including orchards and oak trees, ...
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