Walong (Arunachal Pradesh), February 18 (HBTV): In a high-stakes aerial firefighting operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is battling raging wildfires across two northeastern states, deploying heavy-lift helicopters under extreme flying conditions.
At Walong in Arunachal Pradesh, IAF helicopters successfully extinguished a major forest blaze after dropping approximately 1,39,800 litres of water over the affected area.
Simultaneously, operations are underway in Nagaland’s Dzukou Valley, where Mi-17 V5 helicopters are conducting high-risk sorties to contain fires near Japfu Peak.
The helicopters are drawing water from Padumpokhiri Lake near Dimapur, navigating steep slopes, poor visibility, and rarefied high-altitude air — factors that significantly increase operational risk.
Officials described the missions as technically demanding, given the mountainous terrain and unpredictable wind conditions.