Three people died, and four others were injured in separate incidents of wildfires in Panchthar and Palpa districts.

According to police, two women died in Panchthar.

Ushakala Rai Nembang, 47, of ward 13 of Phidim Municipality, sustained critical burns in a wildfire at Jobari forest in the same ward on Thursday afternoon.

She died on Friday morning while being taken to Kathmandu for treatment, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Kaushal Budhathoki.

Likewise, 22-year-old Pratima Sambahamphe of ward 3 of Kummayak Rural Municipality also died on Thursday while being taken for treatment. She was critically injured in a forest fire at Tamrakhu forest and died upon reaching Bhedetar.

Three other injured—28-year-old Sapana Sambahamphe, her 11-year-old daughter Sibana Sambahamphe and 60-year-old Nirmaya Sambahamphe—are receiving treatment at City Hospital in Biratnagar. Their condition remains critical.

In a separate incident, 31-year-old Khagendra Bishwakarma of ward 1 of Kummayak was injured after falling while helping extinguish a fire in Khalde. His condition is reported to be normal.

In a separate incident in Palpa, Tek Bahadur Sartunge Magar, 61, of ward 7 in Ribdikot Rural Municipality, died while trying to extinguish a forest fire.

According to Police Inspector Sandeep Belbase of the District Police Office, Palpa, the incident occurred while he was helping to contain a wildfire in the forest area of Palung Community Forest.

Police have launched further investigation into the incident.

According to ward member Ram Bahadur Rana, the wildfire has been burning for the past three days. He said it could not be controlled due to dry weather and strong winds.

“The fire suddenly spread due to strong winds, and he couldn’t escape in time,” said ward member Rana. “Efforts have been made to bring the fire under control, but the wind keeps reigniting it.”

Although over 200 members of the forest user group have been trying to put out the fire daily, the strong winds and spreading flames have made it difficult to control.

The fire destroyed a cowshed belonging to Dhan Bahadur Rana of Kortung.

Meanwhile, the wildfire that has been burning for the past three days in the Rimigha Danda forest area of Rambha Rural Municipality in Palpa is yet to be controlled.

According to forest guard Shiva Thapa, the fire started due to an electric short circuit. He said the fire spread rapidly due to wind and the steep terrain, making it difficult to contain.

Locals from Garunga and Kuwadi villages tried to control the fire. Although they managed to prevent it from reaching settlements, reaching the forested areas to extinguish it proved challenging, Thapa said.

Ward chairman Chet Bahadur Sunari said the vast forest area and steep slopes have hindered efforts to control the blaze. The affected forest area includes more than 150 hectares of community forests.