Mahabharat wildfire still raging

KATHMANDU: A wildfire in the Mahabharat Community Forest, located in the southern region of Kavrepalanchok district, has not yet been controlled.

The fire reportedly started on Tuesday afternoon in the community forest situated in Thamlekh Danda of Khanikhola Rural Municipality-1.

Chief District Officer of Kavre, Umesh Kumar Dhakal, said that a joint team of the Nepali Army and Nepal Police, dispatched on Wednesday evening, is coordinating with locals to control the fire. According to Dhakal, security personnel are monitoring the fire area and human settlements. “They have been instructed to prevent the fire from reaching populated areas and to evacuate if damage seems imminent,” he added

According to the Division Forest Office, Kavre, the wildfire from a steep forest area began at around 2 pm on Tuesday. Krishna Bahadur Thapa, head of the forest office, said that a team has been sent to monitor the situation. “A joint meeting of the district administration office and security agencies is being held on Thursday to find solutions,” he added.

Dhakal hinted that additional personnel will be deployed with the necessary equipment to control the fire in coordination with other stakeholders.

The wildfire is currently about three kilometers away from human settlements. No human or animal casualties have been reported so far, according to police.

(Translated from RSS)