Vaishno Devi shrine helicopters battle hill fires in Kashmir

The helicopters were deployed to assist the paramilitary forces and the fire service engaged in battling the leaping flames over the past two days.

Indian Air Force helicopters on Wednesday battled wild fires on the Trikuta Hills near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.

A massive fire broke out in forest areas of Bathuni and Gambr of the Rajouri forest division in Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI file photo)

The helicopters were deployed to assist the paramilitary forces and the fire service engaged in battling the leaping flames over the past two days.

An official told IANS that the wild fires had been spreading but “are likely to be controlled in a few hours. There is no reason to panic”.

As a precaution, all civilian helicopters which ferry pilgrims from Katra town to the Vaishno Devi shrine on the Trikuta Hills were on Tuesday moved to the campus of the Mata Vaishno Devi University.