16 houses gutted

Okhaldhunga, April 12

Sixteen houses were reduced to ashes after a wildfire spread into the human settlement at Singhadevi VDC in Okhaldhunga today.

The wildfire that spread from Raniban Community Forest engulfed a village at Chiuridanda of the VDC. DSP Dipendra Shah of Okhaldhunga District Police Office, said the wildfire had spread to Laxmitar, Rajdeval, Bagkhor and Bimire in the last one week.

He said police personnel and locals were trying to bring the wildfire under control, but in vain. He added that they were facing difficulties bringing the blaze under control due to lack of water sources nearby, expert manpower and necessary equipment.

Forest areas spread over thousands of hectare land has been engulfed by the wildfire.