KAVREPALANCHOK, MARCH 17

Firefighting efforts are ongoing since this morning to contain a forest fire that broke out in the Gorakhnath Community Forest at Bolde in Bethanchok Rural Municipality, Kavrepalanchok.

The fire, which started at around 11 PM on Sunday, could not be tackled immediately due to the late-night timing, said Kuber Dhakal, ward chair of Bethanchok Rural Municipality-3. Since morning, police, local representatives, Forest Users' Committee members, and residents have been working together to bring the blaze under control.

The fire site is approximately a kilometer away from the nearest human settlement. However, Dhakal warned that if the flames spread to the left, homes in the area could be at risk. The drinking water project supplying water to Thalidanda and Harkabhanjyang is also under threat.

As of now, no human or animal casualties have been reported.

(With inputs from RSS)