Itanagar, Mar 12: The raging forest fire in the Mebo sub-division of East Siang has been largely contained today following a 4-day humongous effort by the Indian Air Force with collaborative ground support.
The fire has affected approximately 140 Hectares of reserve forest area, nearly 200 community forest land, agricultural and horticultural land in Sigar, Ralling and Mebo under Mebo Sub division of East Siang District. Fortunately, no human casualties or livestock losses have been reported.
On March 7, the East Siang district administration requested the IAF for helicopter assistance to douse the forest fire which broke out in Mebo. The Department of Civil Aviation Arunachal Pradesh reached out to the Ministry of Defence and Eastern Air Command immediately and operations for dousing Forest Fire over Mebo circle and surrounding areas started from the morning of March 8. A recce of the zone of fire was first conducted followed by trial lifting and thereafter an exercise comprising of total 54 shuttles, lifting 1,62,000 litres of water from the mighty Siang and dousing interior forest areas as well as areas near human settlement have been completed thus far. 
The humongous efforts of the Indian Air Force, spread over 4 days today which was conducted with collaborative ground support from the Deputy Commissioner East Siang and team, Incidence Commander Mebo, Department of Civil Aviation, Fire and Emergency Services, Department of Disaster Management and other stakeholders including team from nearby Sigar Military Station has helped in controlling the fire to a large extent. 
The Mebo Fire dousing with helicopter support is said to be one of the most intensive exercise undertaken by the IAF. Simultaneous efforts by the ground team comprising of Fire and Emergency Services Teams pooled in from neighbouring districts including a team from the Assam Fire and Emergency Services, the SDRF and various stake holding Departments, Aapda Mitras and villagers headed by Gaon Buras have helped to contain the spread of the forest fire to settlement areas. A team of NDRF was also requisitioned on March 10, as additional force in case the situation deteriorates. 
This is the second instance in 2026 where the IAF had been requested by Civil Authorities to help douse fire through helicopters on requisition by the State Government, the first instant being in Mepsoro region of Papum Pare District in February.
Continues monitoring through drones and ground reports, firefighting is underway and the authorities are on alert to prevent further spread of the forest fires. As of today, the IAF Helicopter services and other agencies has been de requisitioned and fire dousing operations has been suspended today as heavy rains occurred Wednesday night in East Siang district and forest fire has been doused to a great extent.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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