UDAYAPUR, APRIL 29
Human settlements in Limchungbung Rural Municipality, Udayapur, are at a high risk as the wildfire that spread in Bhaludhunga Community Forest a week ago is yet to be brought under control.
The wildfire destroyed a house and a cowshed in the rural municipality.
The locals are afraid as no authority has taken initiatives to bring the wildfire under control.
The wildfire destroyed a house and cowshed belonging to Bal Bahadur Rai worth Rs four lakh at the rural municipality on Monday. The rural municipality Chairman Major Rai said that it was very difficult to bring the fire under control due to the dry season and strong wind blowing in the hilly areas. "We could not bring the fire under control despite our maximum efforts," he added.
He said that their efforts were ruined due to lack of water and the geographical location.
The wildfire has destroyed the community forest. Ward 1 Chairman Bhim Kiranti said that trees, medicinal herbs and wild animals' habitat were destroyed. He said that 500 hectares of forest area was completely destroyed. Gyanendra Rai, a local, said that human settlements were at high risk as the fire had spread.
Police team and locals were deployed in the affected area to bring the fire under control. "But the fire is yet to be controlled," he said.
Chief of Katari Division Forest Office, Phanendra Pokhrel, said it was very difficult to bring the wildfire under control due to lack of manpower and because the area was far away.
"We have requested community forest representatives to bring the fire under control," he said.
Pokhrel said that the forest representatives were unable to control the fire due to the topography and distance. "We have requested all for help," he said. Pokhrel further added that the fire also could not be brought under control as the weather was not favourable.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 30, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
