Indian Army and Air Force control major forest fire in Kasauli Cantonment

KASAULI, May 27, 2026 — A coordinated firefighting operation involving the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and local authorities has successfully contained a massive forest fire that threatened the historic heritage areas of the Kasauli Cantonment.

The wildfire broke out in the hills of Kasauli on May 26, prompting an immediate and synchronized response under the direct guidance of the Commander of the Victory For Certain Brigade.

Ground troops from the brigade, personnel from the Kasauli Air Force Station, the Kasauli Cantonment Board, and civilian fire tenders battled the advancing flames for over 16 hours along the Gilbert Trail, Shourya Marg, and adjacent sectors to prevent the blaze from spreading into critical heritage zones.

The operation received a decisive boost from Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters, which executed effective Bambi Bucket sorties to douse the flames from the air.

Official reports confirm that all personnel and equipment are safe, with no civilian or combatant casualties reported, while monitoring operations continue to ensure the fire is completely extinguished.