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Woman dies, two others hurt while trying to control forest fire in Salyan
A woman died while two other people sustained serious burn injuries while trying to contain a massive forest fire at Tusare Simpani of Chhatreswori Rural Municipality-6, Salyan, on Saturday.Biplab Maharjan
A woman died while two other people sustained serious burn injuries while trying to contain a massive forest fire at Tusare Simpani of Chhatreswori Rural Municipality-6, Salyan, on Saturday. Police identified the deceased as Penti Bohara, 65, of Chhatreswori-6. According to Inspector Panchalal Gole, Maya Devi, Bohara’s daughter-in-law, and Khagendra Bohara, a local, were injured in the incident. The injured were taken to the Salyan District Hospital for treatment. Critically injured Khagendra has been referred to Nepalgunj as his treatment was not possible in the district.
The wildfire broke out in the Indreni Community Forest on Thursday. According to the District Police Office, the fire fueled by strong wind entered into the settlement on Thursday and destroyed six houses and four animal sheds. Total destruction caused by the inferno is yet to be assessed, said Inspector Gole. According to Ram Bahadur Budhathoki, chairman of the community forest, the fire victims were unable to salvage food grains, clothes and even cash and valuables. It is still not clear how the fire started in the forest, said Budhathoki.
Security personnel of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force and the local people attempted to contain the fire on Friday. But they could not control the massive fire mainly due to strong wind. Chudamani Dashaudi, ward chairman of Chhatreswori-6, said the local people have been shifted to a safer place on Friday after the forest fire entered the settlement.
Forest fires have burnt around 60 hectares of land in Laxmipur, Madhana, Paiyakharka, Phalabang, Khairabang, Jarkhu, Tusare Simpani among other places this year. Thir Bahadur Karki, chief at the Division Forest Office in Salyan, said that biodiversity is greatly affected in these areas due to wildfires.
“We launch awareness campaign in coordination with police administration each year to control forest fires. But the problem remains due to the negligence of the people,” said Karki.