IAF to deploy two MI-17V5 helicopters to douse Lunglei wildfire

AIZAWL: The Indian Air Force helicopter MI-17V5 has been in the Lunglei area after the Mizoram Government sought help to contain the massive wildfire in the area that broke out the day before yesterday.

PRO Shillong, Ministry of defense had informed that the IAF will be deploying two MI-17V5 helicopters equipped with Bambi bucket to douse the massive fire, though till now only one helicopter has been spotted on the ground.

Due to the dry weather and wind, the fire had spread rapidly over the past 48 hours in the hills of South Mizoram. In some areas, the fire was seen to be under control by the authority, but in some areas, the forests are still burning.

Though there is no official record of human death and other major injuries due to the fire, 12 houses were reportedly burnt down to ashes in Bungtlang South and two were partially destroyed.

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After the capital Aizawl, Lunglei is the largest town in Mizoram that has faced wildfire turning the sky into a hazy din with a yellow tone.

The region is also suffering from a severe water shortage, which is exacerbating the situation.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army is working nonstop with the district administration to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to other areas.

The fire started on Saturday around 7 am in the forested hills near Lunglei town and spread to several neighbourng districts namely--Lunglei and Lawngtlai, Serchhip, and Hnahthial. The cause of the fires is yet to determine.

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