Sukhna Lake Proves Instrumental in Fighting Fires

May 30, 2026

The heat this year is so intense that previous records are being shattered. During these days of the 9 hottest days of summer, North India is experiencing scorching heat. Every year, it feels as though the heat is more severe than the last; however, this year, the temperatures are truly setting new records compared to the previous one. In these final days of May, the Sun God is raining down fire across North India, with temperatures ranging from 43 to 47 degrees Celsius. Incidents of spontaneous combustion—fires breaking out on their own—are being reported in several places. The underlying cause is that extreme temperatures cause wood and dry brush to become parched. When hot winds blow and branches rub against one another, the resulting friction generates sparks that ignite a fire. Consequently, nearby shanties and huts are often reduced to ashes. In many areas, devastating fires are also being witnessed due to short circuits. A similar incident occurred in Kasauli, located just opposite Chandigarh. A massive fire erupted in the forests of Kasauli; this catastrophe not only sowed panic in the Baddi and Morni regions but also raised fears that the blaze might spread to the outskirts of Chandigarh. It was the afternoon of May 26th—around 3:00 PM—when a fire suddenly flared up in the Gilbert Trail and Upper Mall areas, situated on the western slopes of Kasauli. The flames began to spread rapidly toward the dense forests. When the local administration sought assistance from the military, the Army’s Kasauli Brigade launched a joint operation in collaboration with the Air Force. In an innovative effort to secure a water supply, Indian Air Force helicopters began scooping up water from Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake and dousing the fire-affected areas from above. This was a unique undertaking—a sight never witnessed before. Army personnel advanced to the front lines and worked to extinguish the fire using water tankers and other specialized vehicles. The soldiers toiled tirelessly within the rugged and dense forest terrain to isolate sensitive zones from the encroaching flames, thereby preventing the fire from spreading further.