For the fifth day in a row, the forest department has been working to put out a fire that is spreading within a reserve forest in southern India's Tamil Nadu.

The incident took place in the Forest Dale area in Coonoor in Nilgiris district on March 16.

Visuals showed flames were seen coming out of the forest. The smoke covered a large part of the forest. The helicopter collecting water from the river to douse off the forest fire. In another visual it is seen carrying it to the respective place and pouring it on the smoke emitting area.  

According to reports, over 100 forest department staff have been dispatched to extinguish a fire that ignited in Forest Dale near Black Bridge on March 12 and has since been spreading within a reserve forest. The fire is particularly affecting a group of cypress trees, which are not indigenous to the Nilgiris region. Authorities are concerned that approximately 30 hectares of land may have already been ravaged by the blaze.

The Indian Air Force joined the district team on March 16 in aerial firefighting using a helicopter fitted with a bamboo bucket to douse the fire. All efforts are on to control the forest fire raging for the last few days.

On Friday, Collector M Aruna conducted an inspection of the site and engaged in discussions with forest authorities. She indicated that efforts were underway to contain the fire within the next two days. Additionally, she mentioned plans to seek assistance from helitankers provided by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to aid in fire suppression.

She stated, "Forest department staff from Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Erode divisions are reinforcing the existing 50 personnel from the Nilgiris forest division who are currently on-site and actively involved in combating the fire."