15-Hour Battle: Army and IAF Bring Kasauli Wildfire Under Control
Helicopters joined firefighting efforts after blaze erupted near Kasauli Air Force Station.
A massive forest fire near the Air Force Station in Himachal Pradesh’s tourist town of Kasauli triggered a large-scale emergency response, with the Indian Air Force deploying Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters to help contain the blaze. Authorities said the fire, which spread rapidly due to extreme heat, dry vegetation and strong winds, was brought under control after an extensive aerial firefighting operation lasting several hours.
The blaze reportedly began on Tuesday afternoon near the Jangeshu area after dry pine needles caught fire amid soaring temperatures. Strong winds caused the flames to spread across several kilometres within minutes, raising concerns as the fire moved dangerously close to the Kasauli Air Force Station. Local authorities subsequently sought assistance from the Army and the Indian Air Force as the situation intensified by evening.
Indian Air Force helicopters were deployed to carry out aerial water drops over the affected forest region. The helicopters transported water from Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake and repeatedly released it over the burning areas in an effort to contain the advancing flames. Officials said the aerial firefighting operation continued for nearly seven to eight hours before the fire near the Air Force Station was finally controlled.
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Ground firefighting teams also played a major role in tackling the blaze. Personnel from the Kasauli Cantonment Board fire brigade, the Air Force Station’s fire unit, forest department staff and Army soldiers worked throughout the night to prevent the flames from spreading further. Additional fire engines were brought in from nearby areas including Kuthar and Parwanoo as authorities attempted to strengthen containment efforts.
The district administration later confirmed that the fire in the forest area near the Air Force Station had been completely extinguished and that the immediate situation was under control. However, officials said forest department teams were continuing operations in several nearby regions where fires were still active, including areas around Mall Road, the VIP zone, Jangeshu-Manon Road and Kasauli Upper Mall.
Forest fires have also been reported in other parts of Solan district, including the dense forest regions of Shamlech, Anji, Kandaghat and Basal. Officials said teams remain deployed across these locations as efforts continue to prevent further damage. Authorities are now assessing the environmental impact and extent of destruction caused by the fires, which come amid rising temperatures and increasingly dry conditions across Himachal Pradesh.
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