KATHMANDU: A person died and property worth around Rs 20 million were destroyed in a forest fire that spread to 13 community forests in Dhankuta district.

In the forest fire, Banu Chhara Rai (51), of Shahid Bhumi Rural Municipality-2 died after being caught in the forest fire that occurred at Panchakanya Community Forest in the rural municipality.

Similarly, the fire destroyed 13 community forests among 346 community forests in Dhanuta, gutting various plants and medicinal herbs there, according to Rajendra Khadka, district chair of Federation of Community Forestry Users’ Nepal (FECOFUN), Dhankuta.

Similarly, five cow sheds and four houses were gutted after the fire in Jal Kanya Community Forest in Dhankuta Municipality-9 reached human settlement.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gautam Mishra, various incidents of fire due to human errors this year have caused huge losses in comparison to the earlier years.

It is said that 100 hectares of forest in Bhanjyang Danda Community Forest, 36 hectares of forests in Badare Community Forest, 191 hectares of forest in Thulibhir Community Forest, 500 hectares of forest of Pathibhara Community Forest, among others were also destroyed in the fire.

Keeping in mind the dry seasons till May/June, public notice has been issued through local media for the safety of people, said Krishna Prasad Basti, Forestry Officer, Dhankuta.