IAF deploys Mi-17 helicopters and Bambi Buckets to control Kasauli forest fire
NEW DELHI May 30, 2026 :- The Indian Air Force launched round-the-clock aerial firefighting operations near Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh following a massive forest fire that broke out in the region.
After receiving information about the blaze, a Cheetah helicopter was initially deployed to assess the situation, followed by Mi-17 V5 Medium Lift Helicopters tasked with combating the fire under the aid to civil authorities framework.
The intense blaze spread across nearly 10 hectares in the Kasauli Beat area of Solan district, posing a serious threat to residential zones, critical civil infrastructure, and military establishments.
Operating in close coordination with the state administration, state forest department, Indian Army, and local authorities, the helicopter crews undertook sustained Bambi Bucket operations to contain and extinguish the fire. Water was sourced from Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, with each sortie carrying approximately 2,000 to 2,500 liters of water.
The relentless aerial firefighting efforts continued through day and night, discharging more than 93,000 liters of water over the affected area to prevent the fire from escalating into a major disaster.
In a historic first for the Indian Air Force, night Bambi Bucket operations were successfully executed using Night Vision Goggles. Conducted in rugged mountainous terrain under challenging visibility conditions, these missions demanded exceptional flying skill, precision, and operational expertise.
Despite the inherent risks of night firefighting, the aircrew executed the missions safely, while ground personnel worked tirelessly in extreme weather conditions to ensure rapid aircraft servicing and uninterrupted turnaround.