Two Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service on Tuesday evening to douse a fire that had erupted in the hills around the Air Force Station, Kasauli, after attempts to put off the fire by the ground staff proved ineffective.
The hills around Kasauli kept smouldering throughout the day on Tuesday as the forest fire failed to be contained despite aggressive firefighting by the defence staff.
The forest and fire staff prompted the defence staff to press the two helicopters, Mi 17 and Chinook, into service. They conducted various sorties after lifting water from Sukhna Lake with the operation continuing well past 10 pm.
Small and big fires which engulfed various hills around the town led to thick plumes of smoke filling the area.
Home Guards Commandant Santosh Sharma said a fire tender has been positioned in the town as a precaution.
Sources said the helicopters have been cleared to undertake night operations as part of the firefighting mission, enhancing the capability to tackle the blaze round-the-clock. The Mi-17 crew will also utilise the Night Vision Goggles during the operations, enabling safer and more effective aerial firefighting in low-visibility conditions and difficult terrain.
