Watch: Air Force choppers battle raging forest fire in Arunachal at 9,500 feet

A massive forest fire in Arunachal Pradesh's Lohit Valley prompted a coordinated response from the Indian Air Force, Army, and civil agencies, while a separate blaze in Nagaland's Dzukou Valley led to the evacuation of stranded trekkers. Officials cite difficult terrain, dry conditions, and strong winds as contributing factors.

As a massive forest fire continues to rage through pristine forests in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit Valley, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has mounted a high-risk aerial firefighting operation, dropping at least 12,000 litres of water from Mi-17V5 helicopters on flames burning at nearly 9,500 feet above sea level.

Operating in rarefied Himalayan air and over steep, inaccessible ridges overlooking the Lohit River, Air Force crews carried out multiple precision sorties to check the spread of the blaze, which threatened large forest tracts and nearby habitations. The IAF said the mission showcased “exceptional courage and precision” under extremely challenging flying conditions.

In a social media post, the Air Force said, “Battling forest fires at nearly 9,500 feet in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit Valley. IAF Mi-17V5 helicopters dropped 12,000 litres of water in the rarefied Himalayan air, showcasing exceptional courage, precision and a commitment towards protecting lives and fragile ecosystems.”

The aerial operation was launched following an urgent request from the state government, as ground firefighting teams struggled to reach the blaze due to rugged terrain and narrow ridges. Units of the Indian Army, including formations from the eastern sector, worked alongside state forest officials to cut fire lines and prevent the flames from advancing towards villages in the Lohit-Anjaw belt.

The coordinated air-ground response, officials said, helped bring the main blaze under control, though firefighting teams remain on alert as shifting winds and dry conditions could trigger fresh flare-ups.

Forest officials attributed the intensity of the fire to a combination of steep slopes, dry winter vegetation and gusty winds common during the peak fire season in the eastern Himalayas. High-altitude operations posed additional technical challenges, as thinner air reduces helicopter lift and significantly narrows safety margins during water-dumping runs, requiring highly skilled piloting.