IAF helicopters douse wildfires in Arunachal, Nagaland as 139,800 litres dropped over Walong

Walong, Feb 18; Indian Air Force helicopters are conducting sustained aerial firefighting operations in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, battling forest fires across steep and difficult terrain.

At Walong in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh, helicopters dropped a total of 139,800 litres of water to contain a major blaze that broke out on the night of February 13. The fire had engulfed parts of the town, triggering panic among residents and prompting emergency measures.

The Air Force confirmed that the blaze at Walong has been extinguished following repeated sorties. Authorities are now assessing the extent of damage in the area.

Simultaneously, firefighting missions continue over Dzukou Valley in Nagaland. Mi-17 V5 helicopters are drawing water from Padumpokhiri Lake in Dimapur and dropping it near Japfu Peak, where fires have spread across forested slopes. Operations are being carried out amid steep gradients, low visibility and thin air, posing significant challenges to flight crews.

Local MLA and minister Dasanglu Pul described the situation in Walong as serious and urged residents and travellers to remain vigilant. She stressed that the “safety of local communities must remain the top priority” and called on people to strictly follow official advisories.

Pul appealed to citizens to avoid reckless actions that could endanger lives, property and the environment. Describing Walong as a shared natural asset, she urged residents to cooperate with frontline responders and support efforts to minimise further damage.

She also warned that anyone found deliberately causing harm or attempting to disturb peace in the area would face strict legal action.

Emergency teams remain deployed across affected regions as monitoring and containment efforts continue.