A three-year-old girl died and 16 homes were destroyed in a fire in the Muslim settlement of Kadamaha in ward 6 of Dhanpalthan Rural Municipality in Morang district, on Tuesday.

According to the District Police Office in Morang, Reshma Khatun died in the inferno. The fire fanned by wind spread rapidly in the clustered settlement where most of the houses had thatch roofs, which made it difficult to control. The fire broke out at around 12:30pm.

Asmina Khatun took her daughter Reshma in her lap and went outside as her home caught fire. The mother left her daughter in a safer place outside the house and went inside the house to salvage cash and belongings. “I did not notice she followed him and entered the home. I lost my daughter in greed to save some cash,” lamented Asmina.

Security personnel and the local people doused the fire with the help of fire engines after one hour. Police suspected that the fire was caused by an electric short-circuit. “Further investigation is underway. Damage caused by the fire is yet to be assessed,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Dev Joshi.

The incident site is about 15 km southeast from Biratnagar, the provincial headquarters of Koshi Province. “Efforts are on to provide relief to the victims who are taking shelter under tents,” said Nasima Bano, vice-chairperson of Dhanpalthan Rural Municipality.

Fire incidents—both house fires and forest fires—have been reported from various places over the past 24 hours with the onset of the dry season.

In Khotang, a massive fire that spread from Balchikhola Community Forest in ward 2 of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality destroyed a school and nine houses. According to municipal spokesperson Kamal Giri, the fire broke out in the community forest around 3:30pm on Monday and quickly engulfed Balakanya Basic School’s two-room building. It also destroyed the homes of Adam Rai, Sammer Bahadur Rai, Pabindra Kumar Rai, Hiradhan Rai, Krishna Bahadur Rai, Chayan Kumar Rai and Tanka Bahadur Rai, while Ran Bahadur Rai’s house was partially damaged.

The security personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, municipal police and local residents doused the blaze at 9:45pm. Authorities provided immediate relief of Rs10,000 per family. Total damage caused by the fire has yet to be assessed.

Similarly in Makawanpur, a fire destroyed a house belonging to Krishna Bahadur Darlami in ward 2 of Makawanpurgadhi Rural Municipality on Tuesday. According to the District Police Office in Makawanpur, food grains, clothes and other belongings were destroyed in the incident. Preliminary police investigation shows that properties worth approximately Rs1 million were destroyed in the incident.

In Kavre, the fire that broke out in the Gorakhanath Community Forest in ward 3 of Bethanchowk Rural Municipality on Sunday night remains uncontrollable. Ward chair Kuber Dhakal said the fire began at 11pm and spread to the Chishapani Community Forest.

Dhakal said a security team was deployed on Monday to protect the human settlement in Harkabhanjyang, but strong winds have made it difficult to ensure complete safety. The fire has already damaged an estimated seven hectares of the 193-hectare Gorakhanath Community Forest.

(With inputs from local correspondents)