Following a relentless 15-hour overnight operation that extended well into Wednesday, the army, in close coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF), civil administrators from Kasauli and Chandigarh, and local emergency services, successfully contained a major forest fire.
The blaze had threatened to engulf the prominent Gilbert Trail, Upper Mall, and adjacent western slopes of the popular Himachal Pradesh hill station.
The fire broke out around 3pm on Tuesday, quickly escalating into a high-stakes emergency as it spread perilously close to the Kasauli air force station. Fuelled by highly combustible dry pine needles, soaring summer temperatures, and strong mountain winds, the flames rapidly cut through the Dharampur-Sanawar and Garkhal forest belts.
Despite aggressive initial ground firefighting efforts by local forest teams and civil fire tenders, the sheer velocity of the blaze and the region’s inaccessible, rugged terrain forced local authorities to seek immediate military assistance.
Overnight aerial operation
Responding to the crisis, the Indian Army’s Kasauli Brigade launched an immediate intervention, mobilising both combatant and non-combatant troops.
Recognising the severity of the situation, the IAF pressed Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters into service. Operating under demanding conditions, the helicopters conducted multiple sorties, lifting water directly from Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake, about 30km from Kasauli, to drop onto the burning canopy via specialised Bambi buckets. Crucially, the IAF was cleared for night operations, utilising night vision goggles to continue the aerial assault long after sunset and prevent the fire from leaping into vulnerable, deep-forest zones.
{{/usCountry}}Recognising the severity of the situation, the IAF pressed Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters into service. Operating under demanding conditions, the helicopters conducted multiple sorties, lifting water directly from Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake, about 30km from Kasauli, to drop onto the burning canopy via specialised Bambi buckets. Crucially, the IAF was cleared for night operations, utilising night vision goggles to continue the aerial assault long after sunset and prevent the fire from leaping into vulnerable, deep-forest zones.
{{/usCountry}}On the ground, military personnel worked through the night to cut vital firebreaks, isolate burning pockets, and douse lingering hotspots.
According to an official statement by the defence public relations officer (PRO), all personnel and equipment remain safe. No civilian casualties or injuries to first responders have been reported.
Review and commendations
Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, the army commander of the Western Command, arrived on-site on Wednesday to review the ongoing operations and assess the ground situation.
Commending the swift, seamless synergy between the services and civil agencies, Lt Gen Singh praised the grit of the troops. In recognition of their professionalism and rapid response under hazardous conditions, the army commander awarded on-the-spot commendation cards to the personnel leading the firefighting mission.
Meanwhile, residual operations continue on inaccessible stretches to monitor for any potential flare-ups.
Tinderbox effect
*The forests of Solan district, particularly around Kasauli and Shimla, are dominated by chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) trees. During the peak summer months of May and June, these trees shed large quantities of dry needles, known locally as chilka. These needles are resinous and act as a potent natural kindling. Combined with an intense ongoing heatwave in Himachal Pradesh, even a tiny spark—whether from friction, a discarded cigarette, or agricultural burning—can spark a fire.
*Forest fires are an escalating crisis for Himachal Pradesh, which witnesses between 5,000 to 10,000 hectares of forest land damaged annually. The state forest department estimates that these annual seasonal fires cause direct economic losses exceeding ₹3 crore to ₹5 crore, impacting timber resources, rare Himalayan herbs, and biodiversity.
Kasauli fire timeline
*A fire starts in the Jangeshu forest area at 3pm on May 26 amid dry pine needles and intense heat; strong winds push the flames toward the Gilbert Trail, Upper Mall, and close to the Kasauli air force station.
*Initial containment efforts by local fire tenders fail due to steep, rocky terrain. By late afternoon, the civil administration requests emergency military intervention. Indian Army’s Kasauli Brigade deploys ground troops.
*By evening, the IAF deploys Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters. Sorties begin lifting water from Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake using Bambi buckets for precise aerial drops.
*Troops create ground firebreaks through the night. IAF choppers use night vision goggles to continue aerial containment.
*By May 27 morning, after 15 hours of continuous operations, the main blazes at Gilbert Hill and Upper Mall are successfully contained.
*By the afternoon, Lt General Pushpendra Singh reviews ground situation and awards on-the-spot commendation cards to the responders; cooling operations continue.
247 forest fires reported this summer
During this summer season the state has witnessed 247 forest fires as against 276 fires reported last year. Most fires were reported from Mandi 82, followed by Dharamshala 59 and Nahan 52 while only one incident was reported from Rampur.
Principal chief conservator of forests, Himachal Pradesh, Sanjay Sood, said, “The total estimated loss due to forest fires across the state currently stands at around ₹67 lakh.”
Drones to keep vigil in sensitive areas
Highlighting the use of technology in forest fire management, Sood said the department has deployed around 10 to 12 drones in highly sensitive areas and plans to significantly increase the number in the coming months with additional funding support.
“We are using drones, satellite imagery and mobile applications for real-time monitoring. Whenever a fire incident occurs, information reaches officers within seconds through the fire monitoring app,” he said.
“Temperatures have risen sharply over the last two to three days. This has led to fire incidents, but overall the situation is under control,” Sood said.
Around 2,000 sensitive forest beats across the state have been equipped with dedicated forest firefighters and field staff. Rapid response teams have also been constituted at circle levels for immediate deployment during emergencies.
“We are fully prepared. Forest workers and rapid response teams are reaching fire spots much faster now compared to previous years,” Sood said.
24x7 fire control room in Bilaspur
He added that the state has established a 24x7 fire control room in Bilaspur for monitoring and coordination of fire-related incidents.
The forest department has also created and maintained nearly 3,000 km of fire lines across vulnerable forest regions and undertaken controlled burning operations over approximately 12,000 hectares to prevent fires from spreading rapidly.
Sood said the department has spent nearly ₹15 to ₹16 crore this year on preparedness and mitigation efforts.
He said that under the Government of India’s Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme, Himachal Pradesh received nearly ₹8 crore this year for Mandi, Bilaspur and another sensitive district. The state government has requested the Centre to extend the scheme to more districts, as several additional regions remain highly vulnerable to forest fires. The state has also received around ₹9 crore under an externally aided forest fire management project supported by France, he added.
“More than one lakh people are connected with our mobile communication system. Whenever there is a fire incident, local residents are immediately informed and contacted. Youth mandals, mahila mandals and local communities are actively participating in fire control efforts,” he said.
The HoFF also said leaves of department personnel have been restricted in several highly sensitive districts, including Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Una, due to the ongoing fire season.
He added that the authorities are also gathering information regarding cases where forest fires may have been deliberately triggered and said further details would be shared after verification by field teams.