Indian air force extinguished the fire in the Valley of Flowers. Awakening
Dialogue associate, Jagran, Joshimath. The Indian Air Force once again demonstrated its operational readiness by taking prompt action in controlling the forest fire in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve area of Uttarakhand. On seeking assistance from the state government, Mi-17 V5 helicopter of the Central Air Command immediately reached Joshimath in coordination with the Media Coordination Center of the Air Force.
By deploying the helicopter in fire fighting mode, bucketing of water was done in the fire affected area, which made effective control of the fire possible in the inaccessible and sensitive area. This timely action helped prevent major damage to wildlife and the environment.
This role of the Air Force in disaster management once again proves that along with the security of the country, providing assistance to the civil administration in emergency situations is also one of the major responsibilities of the Indian Air Force.