IAF Joins Forces with Uttarakhand Government for Bambi Bucket Operations

Tags: National State News

The Indian Air Force (IAF) collaborated with the Uttarakhand government to conduct Bambi Bucket operations.

An Overview of the News

• Utilizing the Mi-17 V5 helicopter, the IAF engaged in combating forest fires in Nainital, Uttarakhand.

• A total of 23 sorties were conducted, amounting to 11 and a half hours of operation.

• Approximately 44,600 liters of water were utilized by the IAF in their efforts to extinguish the blazing fires in the mountains.

Bambi Bucket: A Revolutionary Tool

• Inception: Introduced in 1983.

• Inventor: Canadian Don Arney.

• Functionality: Facilitates helicopters in transporting large water volumes beneath the aircraft.

• Impact: Enables swift extinguishing of wildfires from the air.

Uttarakhand's 'Pirul Lao-Paise Pao' Campaign

• Launch: Inaugurated on May 8, 2024, by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

• Campaign Oversight: Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board appointed to supervise.

• Objective: Combating forest fires and forest devastation.

• Operational Procedure:

  • Locals and youth collect dry pirul (pine tree leaves) from the forest.

  • Transport to designated collection centers.

  • Reward: Rs 50 per kilogram (kg) directly deposited into their bank accounts.

• Purpose: Mitigating fire risk posed by pirul in Pine forests and utilizing them for productive purposes like electricity generation.

About Uttarakhand

• Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami

• Governor: Gurmit Singh

• Capital: Dehradun

• Wildlife Sanctuaries:

  • Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Benog Wildlife Sanctuary

• Festivals:

  • Kangdali Festival

  • Uttarayani Mela or Uttarayani Fair