Army, IAF struggle to control forest fire in Arunachal Pradesh's Walong

Army troops and IAF helicopters continued their efforts for the fifth day on Tuesday to control a massive forest fire that broke out at Walong, a remote location at an altitude of 3,000 to 3,500 feet in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Videos shared by Army on Tuesday evening showed the IAF chopper trying to the douse the razing fire on the hills by dropping water while other fire fighting equipments were also pressed into service. The fire started on February 13.

Dry weather conditions and the practice of jhum cultivation (slush and burn of the jungles) by the tribes living on the hills are two major reasons of forest fire in the Northeast.

"Over the past five days, relentless efforts have been undertaken through the synergised deployment of manpower, specialised firefighting equipment, heavy machinery, and helicopters providing aerial reconnaissance and water-dropping support. Operations are being carried out round-the-clock under challenging terrain and weather conditions to ensure complete extinguishing of the fire," said a statement issued by a defence spokesperson in Guwahati.

It said the troops of the army's Spear Corps, in close coordination with the Indian Air Force and the local civil administration, were engaged in their efforts to douse the residual flames, preventing flare-ups, and securing affected areas.

"The GOC of 2 Mountain Division visited the affected area today to review the ongoing firefighting efforts and commended troops for their dedication and response. Significant progress has been achieved in containing the blaze, and continuous monitoring is underway to prevent re-ignition," said the statement.