GAIGHAT, UDAYAPUR: Human settlements around Katari are at high risk from forest fires that have occurred at Belsrot, Khasibas and Risku of Churiya area in Katari Municipality of Udayapur district recently.

According to locals, the forest fire occurred at these three places is spreading towards the human settlements.

Katari Municipality and the Katari Area Forest Office are working to subdue the forest fires, informed Municipality Mayor Gyanendra Shrestha.

A team led by Mayor Shrestha worked the whole Saturday night in an attempt to tame the forest fire at Risku which has put 300 households in the area at risk.

Local people's representatives, office-bearers of the community forest users groups and locals have been mobilised to contain the forest fire at Belsrot which is spreading to human settlements and which has destroyed about 1,000 hectares forest so far, said Mayor Shrestha.

Likewise, locals estimate that nearly 2,000 hectares forest has been destroyed by fire which has been raging at Handiya, Jogidaha, Lalpata, Patlebas areas in Triyuga Municipality since a week.