As forest fires continue to rage and intensify across the hill state of Uttarakhand, three Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force on Sunday dumped loads of water on the days-long blaze in Nainital and Pauri districts. On Sunday morning, one Mi-17 helicopter flew several sorties in Nainital district, sprinkling water lifted from Bhimtal lake to douse the flames
At least seven people have died and 15 others injured in the fires so far. About 2,269 hectares of forested land have been destroyed with Pauri, Nainital, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Almora districts bearing most of the brunt.
The authorities claimed the situation was gradually getting better, and the latest satellite imagery of forest fires shows the blaze has been extinguished in over 75 per cent of the affected area in the hill state.
