In Goa, Air Force Deploys Mi-17 Helicopter To Battle Forest Fires

An official release said that on Thursday, the Indian Air Force sent one Mi-17 helicopter with Bambi buckets to Goa to help fight forest fires that were getting out of control.

“As part of today’s operations, this helicopter flew multiple missions and dropped almost 22,000 litres of water on the fire,” said the official statement.

Also, an official statement says that the Indian Air Force is working with the Indian Navy and the government to fight forest fires in the affected areas of the coastal state.

“The work will keep going tomorrow. During Bambi Bucket operations, the helicopter carries water under its wing and dumps it over the fire to put it out “the news release said to read on.

The IAF has done similar things in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Manipur in the past few years.

On March 8, Goa’s Minister of Forests, Vishwajit Rane, said that a full investigation would be done into the fire at the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

“An investigation was called for after I talked to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant,” Mr. Rane said.

Mr. Rane said on Facebook and Twitter, “The DCF is getting strict orders, and the deputy conservators of forests (DCFs) in all the affected areas are getting orders for their ranges. People won’t be able to get into the wildlife sanctuaries, and they won’t be able to start wildfires either.”

“The RFOs and forest guards will have to stay in their areas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep an eye on wildfires,” he said.

He also said, “I have told the DCF that his team needs to explain what happens inside a certain wildlife sanctuary.”

He said that he will not let the Mhadei forest be destroyed. He also said that it is the responsibility of the department and the people to protect and preserve the wildlife in the area.

He also said that the Defense Ministry has given his ministry “in-principle approval” to use more helicopters in the dousing operations.