The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed an AF Mi-17 V5 helicopter on Sunday to undertake multiple Bambi Bucket operations to douse forest fires in the Nilgiris.

IAF’s ‘Bambi Bucket Operation’ Douse Forest Fires in Nilgiris

The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed an AF Mi-17 V5 helicopter on Sunday to undertake multiple Bambi Bucket operations to douse forest fires in the Nilgiris. Collaborating with the forest department and state administration, the IAF helicopter discharged over 16,000 litres of water to control the spread of the fire.

Air Force station Sulur, located near Coimbatore, was assigned the task, after which the Mi-17 V5 helicopter equipped with a Bambi Bucket was dispatched from there. The Bambi Bucket, a specialised apparatus utilised by the Mi-17 V5 helicopter, facilitates the transport of a large volume of water underneath the aircraft, enabling effective dispersal over the affected areas.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve(NBR)

•It harbours a wide spectrum of ecosystem types such as tropical evergreen forests, Montane sholas and grasslands, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests and thorn forests.

•The major part of the core areas spread over Kerala and Tamil Nadu States.

•This range of ecosystem occurs from hilly terrain to the meadows extending from 300 to 2670 m constituting an excellent habitat for the flora, fauna and other microbial forms.

•Fauna: Animals like Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, slender loris, blackbuck, tiger, gaur, Indian elephant and marten are found here.

•Tribal Population: Tribal groups like the Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan Chettis, Cholanaickens, Allar, Malayan, etc., are native to the reserve.

Protected Areas within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve are

The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley.