IAF choppers from Jamnagar air-base to join fire fight operation in Mount Abu tomorrow

Ahmedabad: Indian Air Force choppers from Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat will join the ongoing fire-fight operations to douse the forest-fire in the hills around Mount Abu of neighbouring Rajasthan tomorrow, Defence spokesperson Wing Commander Abhishek Matiman said today.

Wing Commander Matiman said that at 1230hrs today the HQ SWAC Gandhinagar received a call from Rajasthan Government seeking help in dousing a massive forest fire in the hills around Mt Abu town fast progressing towards the inhabited areas assisted by winds.

‘Already on alert and standing by with suitably modified MI-17V5 helicopters with Bambi Bucket, the helicopter unit at Phalodi (Rajasthan) swung into action with the first helicopter reaching the site by 1420hrs. A quick aerial recce was carried out and the operation got underway. Nakki lake in the midst of Mt Abu town, nestled between the hills was identified as the most viable source of water. Braving the altitude and skillful maneuvering through the terrain around Nakki Lake, the Air Warriors managed to push in seven sorties dropping close to about 20000 litres of water over the spread of fire most dangerously close to inhabited area,’ he said.

The operation is likely to be augmented by an additional IAF MI-17V5 helicopter from Jamnagar tomorrow at first light, he said adding that the IAF has directed the state administration to provide aircraft refuelling facilities at the location in order to save precious time during operations tomorrow.

DeshGujarat