The Indian Air Force (IAF) responded quickly to control a forest fire in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve area of Uttarakhand on Wednesday.
The Central Air Command (CAC) said an IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter was deployed at Joshimath after receiving a request from the state government to control forest fire. The operation highlighted the IAF’s important role in both national defence and disaster relief.
In an official post on X, the Central Air Command said the IAF once again showed its operational readiness. The post stated "The IAF's operational readiness was demonstrated yet again, when the @IAF_MCC responded swiftly to fight a forest fire in Uttarakhand's Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve area. The IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter, from Central Air Command was deployed in fire fighting mode at Joshimath to meet the requirement of the requisition from State Govt. This response, once again, highlighted the IAF's dual role in defense and disaster response."
According to the official website of Uttarakhand, the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, also called Nanda Devi National Park, is a vast and beautiful wilderness area in the upper Himalayas. The reserve and the Valley of Flowers are both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The region marks a unique transition zone between the Zanskar mountain range and the Great Himalaya. It is located around the Nanda Devi peak and spreads across the districts of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar.
The reserve covers an area of more than 6,407.03 square kilometres. It is divided into two main district zones, the core zone and the outer buffer zone, to help manage and protect its rich ecosystem.
The website further stated that “There are two core zones, namely Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park. What makes these parks even more spectacular are the Alaknanda River and its tributaries, including Rishi Ganga, Dhauli Ganga, Pushwapati, and Khiro Ganga, which crisscross the area. In addition to Nanda Devi, several peaks line the reserve, including Trishul, Dunagiri, Kalanka, and Nanda Ghungti."
The biosphere reserve is known for its exceptional biodiversity. It supports many rare and globally threatened species like the snow leopard and Himalayan musk deer. The region is also home to animals such as the Asiatic black bear, Himalayan brown bear, bharal and Himalayan tahr. It is a popular destination for bird watching as well. Limited community-based ecotourism is allowed in some areas, but the region mainly serves as a protected conservation site.
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