Amid a dry season and a lack of rain for a prolonged period, the number of fire incidents has started to rise, in which at least 22 people have been killed and scores injured, and properties worth rupees millions have been gutted in various parts of the country.

Hospitals providing treatment to fire victims including the Nepal Cleft and Burn Centre in Kirtipur [Kirtipur Hospital] and Bir Hospital, reported a surge in fire victims.

“Our hospital remains occupied with burn victims most of the time,” said Dr Kiran Nakarmi, director at Kirtipur Hospital. “We also need to admit burn victims in other general beds in winter when fire incidents rise.”

According to the data provided by the Nepal Police, 22 people died in fire-related accidents in the month of Magh (from January 14 to February 12) in various districts across the country. Of the 22 deceased, 11 were men, 10 women and a child. The data shows that 87 people have been injured in the fire-related incidents. As many as 68 houses, 66 sheds and 247 cattle were gutted in the fire. It is estimated that properties worth Rs184.88 million have been destroyed in the fire.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) data shows that 25 people have died and 125 injured since the start of 2025 in fire-related incidents, including one in the forest fire. As many as 619 incidents of fire have been recorded in this period.

Kirtipur Hospital, the key hospital for treating burn victims, remains occupied throughout the year. The hospital officials said all eight intensive care unit (ICU) beds allocated for burn victims remained occupied on Friday. The hospital also admits burn victims in ICU beds designed for general patients during winter and dry seasons to manage the growing flow of burn victims.

“Intensive care unit beds of the burn unit remained occupied most of the time,” said Nakarmi.

Doctors blamed several reasons, including resorting to bonfires to stay warm during winter, accidents such as gas explosions, and forest fires, for the rise in burn cases.

“Scores of people are dying and getting injured in fire-related incidents every year,” said Dr Peeyush Dahal, chief of the Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit at Bir Hospital. “But no progress has been made in infrastructures and human resources for treatment of burn cases.”

According to Dahal, the Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit of Bir Hospital can adjust for only one serious burn victim, as four out of five intensive care beds of the unit beds have already been occupied by serious patients.