A forest fire that broke out in the Mebo subdivision of East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, has been largely brought under control after a coordinated multi‑agency response that included intensive helicopter dousing by the Indian Air Force and heavy overnight rains on 12 March 2026. The blaze, which threatened nearby settlements, was contained through a combination of aerial water drops, ground firefighting and continuous monitoring, officials said.
The situation escalated on the night of 7 March 2026 when the Deputy Commissioner of Pasighat alerted authorities about the fire’s rapid spread. The Department of Civil Aviation asked the Ministry of Defence and the Eastern Air Command for support, and helicopter‑assisted dousing began on the morning of 8 March following an initial aerial reconnaissance and mapping of the affected zones.
IAF helicopters made 54 shuttle sorties, lifting a total of 162,000 litres of water from the Siang River to douse flames in interior forest areas and locations close to human habitation. Officials described the operation as among the most intensive aerial firefighting exercises the IAF has conducted in recent years.
Extensive ground support worked alongside the air effort. 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 coordinated operations. Local volunteers — including Aapda Mitras (trained disaster volunteers) and villagers led by Gaon Buras (village elders) — joined firefighting lines, while the Assam Fire and Emergency Services and the State Disaster Response Force provided additional resources.
As a precaution, the National Disaster Response Force was requisitioned on 10 March in case the fire intensified. Combined efforts prevented the blaze from spreading into residential areas and limited damage to property and livelihoods. The fire affected roughly 140 hectares of reserve forest and nearly 200 hectares of community forest, agricultural and horticultural land across Sigar, Ralling and Mebo, but authorities reported no human casualties or livestock losses.
Teams continued surveillance using drones and ground patrols to guard against re‑ignition. After heavy rains overnight on 12 March, officials said the fire was substantially doused, IAF helicopter services and other agencies were stood down, and monitoring has continued to ensure the area remains secure. The state government called the operation a benchmark in multi‑agency collaboration; this was the second helicopter‑assisted dousing in Arunachal Pradesh this year, after a February incident in Mepsoro, Papum Pare district.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/arunachal-pradesh/video/arunachal-forest-fire-under-control-after-multi-agency-effort-and-iaf-helicopter-operations-1358562-2026-03-12?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-03-12 14:59:00
