IAF Crushes Kasauli Forest Fire With 40,000L Sukhna Lake Water Drop
IAF drops 40,000L from Sukhna Lake to douse Kasauli forest fire.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released footage of its ongoing firefighting operations in Kasauli, where helicopters were deployed to contain a massive forest fire that raged through parts of the hill town in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district. The blaze reportedly broke out around 3 pm on Tuesday in the forested hills near the Gilbert Trail and Upper Mall area before spreading rapidly across the region.
Videos shared by the IAF showed helicopters carrying out precision water-dropping missions over the affected forest zones. The aircraft used Bambi buckets — collapsible containers suspended beneath helicopters — to lift water from nearby Sukhna Lake and release it over active fire lines. The aerial operations were aimed at slowing the spread of the flames and assisting ground firefighting teams battling difficult terrain conditions.
In a statement accompanying the footage, the Indian Air Force said its personnel had been continuously engaged in firefighting efforts since Tuesday evening. “The Indian Air Force is relentlessly engaged in firefighting operations in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, assisting civil authorities in combating the raging forest fire since yesterday, 1700 hours and through the dark hours,” the statement read. The IAF added that helicopters had completed more than 15 sorties and dropped over 40,000 litres of water on the affected areas.
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According to officials quoted by PTI, the aerial operations played a crucial role in preventing the fire from spreading deeper into vulnerable forest regions. Authorities also confirmed that all personnel and equipment involved in the operation remained safe, with no injuries or casualties reported during the firefighting mission.
Kasauli and nearby hill regions frequently witness forest fires during the dry season, with steep terrain and limited road access often posing major challenges for fire services. In such situations, aerial firefighting assets become critical in reaching inaccessible locations and controlling fast-moving flames in mountainous areas.
The firefighting efforts drew praise from several social media users who witnessed the operations firsthand. “Thank you... We are visiting Kasauli and are witnessing the non-stop helicopter sorties since 26 May,” one user commented on the video. Another user wrote, “Have been to Kasauli today, saw how everyone is fighting the fire. Thank you Indian armed forces for your selfless services.”
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