New Delhi, Jan. 15 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) responded "swiftly" to fight a forest fire in Uttarakhand's Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve area on Wednesday. According to the Central Air Command (CAC), an IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter was deployed in firefighting mode at Joshimath in response to a requisition from the state government. In this response, the CAC highlighted the IAF's dual role in defence and disaster response.

The official X post of the CAC, IAF 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 me...