Dhankuta, March 24

Property worth Rs 20 million have been reduced to ashes in the last two weeks after a wildfire spread to 13 different community forests of Dhankuta due to human error.

One person has lost his life in the wildfire that has spread to Panchakanya Community Forest in Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality.

The deceased has been identified as Banu Chhara Rai, 52, of the rural municipality. As many as five cowsheds and four houses were destroyed after the wildfire spread to a human settlement from Jalakanya Community Forest in Belhara.

Federation of Community Forest Consumers, Dhankuta, said the wildfire had caused a huge loss. It said 13 of the 346 community forests in the district were destroyed completely.

Chairman of the federation Rajendra Khadka said 25 hectares of Rudrabari Community Forest, 36 hectares of Raghutar Community Forest and some areas of Vishranti Forest were destroyed in the wildfire.

According to Superintendent of Police Gautam Mishra at District Police Office, Dhankuta, a huge loss has occurred in the community forests due to minor human error and resulted in death of one person.