Arunachal forest fire under control after multi-agency effort and IAF helicopter operations

The forest fire that broke out in the Mebo subdivision of East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, has been largely brought under control following a coordinated effort by multiple agencies. 

The situation escalated on the night of 7 March 2026 when the Deputy Commissioner of Pasighat communicated the urgent need for intervention due to the rapid spread of the fire. Immediate action was taken, with the Department of Civil Aviation reaching out to the Ministry of Defence and the Eastern Air Command, leading to the commencement of helicopter-assisted dousing operations from the morning of 8 March.

Initial efforts involved a reconnaissance of the affected zone, followed by a series of water-lifting exercises. Indian Air Force helicopters carried out a total of 54 shuttles, deploying 1,62,000 litres of water from the Siang River to douse flames in both interior forested regions and areas close to human settlement. These aerial operations were considered among the most intensive fire-fighting exercises conducted by the IAF in recent years.

Ground support played a crucial role alongside air operations. Teams from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the Mebo Incident Command, Fire and Emergency Services, the Department of Disaster Management, and personnel from the Sigar Military Station collaborated closely. Local volunteers, including Aapda Mitras and villagers led by Gaon Buras, joined fire-fighting efforts, while the Assam Fire and Emergency Services and the State Disaster Response Force provided additional resources.

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As the blaze threatened to reach settlement areas, a team from the National Disaster Response Force was requisitioned on 10 March as a precaution in case the situation worsened. Through combined operations, responders were able to prevent the spread of the fire into residential zones and mitigate damage to assets and livelihoods.

The fire affected approximately 140 hectares of reserve forest and nearly 200 hectares of community forest, agricultural, and horticultural land across Sigar, Ralling, and Mebo. Despite the scale of the incident, authorities confirmed that there were no reports of human casualties or livestock losses, minimising the incident's impact on local communities.

Continued monitoring through drone surveillance and ground reports ensured authorities remained on alert to prevent further outbreaks. Teams maintained vigilant oversight while fire-fighting operations were underway, adapting their strategies in response to changing weather and ground conditions.

According to officials, this was the second instance in 2026 where the Indian Air Force was called upon for helicopter-assisted dousing in Arunachal Pradesh, the previous occasion being in Mepsoro, Papum Pare District, in February. The government described the East Siang operation as a benchmark of multi-agency collaboration and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Defence and IAF for their involvement.

On 12 March, after heavy overnight rains in East Siang, officials reported that the fire had been substantially doused. As a result, the IAF helicopter services and other agencies were stood down, and dousing operations were suspended. Authorities continue to monitor the area to ensure the fire does not rekindle.