IAF ops check fire from spreading to inhabited areas

Mount Abu: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully stopped the massive fire raging through forests near Mount Abu from spreading to inhabited areas and stepped up the firefighting operation an additional MI-17 V5 helicopter from Jamnagar on Saturday.
Hundreds of hectares in Abu hills is in the grip of one of the worst-ever infernos seen here and forest officials revealed that the blaze has occurred at not 10 but 23 points, most of which were favourite among the tourists.As a precautionary measure, visitors have been prevented from going to Anadara Point, Sunsent Point, Honeymoon Point and Craig Point. The Nakki Bazaar, another favourite shopping and hangout spot for tourists, has also been closed.
Hundreds of hectors in Mount Abu hills is in grip of flames. Garland of flames could be seen not only with naked eyes but with GPS system too, the entire fiery night at nearly 23 points, confirmed by the ACF Srivastava.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has also arrived in Abu as a stand-by besides Ratan Lahoti, divisional commissioner of Jodhpur division and Abhimanyu Kumar, collector of Sirohi.
IAF spokesman said wing commander Thiagaraman and squadron leader Praveen Tiwari had flown over 73 sorties of Silver Falcons and Stallions choppers since Saturday morning. “They dropped over 1.82 lakh litres over the ravaged areas. The fires near Sunset Point, Anadara Point, Sunset Point, Honeymoon Point, Gurushikhar ridge and around Nakki Lake were put out earlier in the day. Subsequent sorties focussed on identifying and dousing the source of fire,” the spokesman said.
The choppers will be stationed there and resume operations on Sunday.
Air Vice Marshal KP Unni Krishnan Nair, senior officer in-charge (administration), South Western Air Command (SWAC) reached Mt Abu on Friday to overseeing the entire operation.
A section of people strongly believe that brewing illicit country liquor in forest and leaving their makeshift distilleries burning is the cause of the blaze. KK. Contractor, president of Lions Club Mount Abu and Kashyap Jani, president of Mount Abu Hotel Association (MAHA), assert that despite being an eco-sensitive zone, Mount Abu is still an open field for dubious builders and land and forest sharks with connivance of political support.
Several concerned citizens have been demanding a permanent helicopter fire tender for Mount Abu for past years.