A wildfire that broke out two days ago in the Liping forest area above Liping Bazaar, in ward 2 of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchok, has put Rangbusa village at risk.

Rangbusa, home to 20 Thami and Tamang families, faces an immediate threat as the fire approaches. Residents have sought urgent assistance.

“We have been unable to sleep for two nights in fear of the fire. Thick smoke has engulfed the forest, and the flames are just a few metres away from the village,” said Rita Thami, a resident.

The fire started on Friday at the tunnel site of the under-construction Liping Khola Hydropower Project due to an electrical short circuit in external structures, according to Bhotekoshi-2 chair Kumar Shrestha.

On Sunday, the rural municipality arranged a helicopter to fetch water from the Bhotekoshi River, with the hydropower project covering the cost. However, the fire near the village remains uncontrolled.

“Although the fire has subsided to some extent, strong winds are fanning the flames,” said local resident Sarju Lama.

The helicopter made 54 trips on Sunday, each carrying 800 litres of water, but efforts to contain the blaze failed. Security personnel and locals have struggled to control the fire due to high winds.

The fire has spread into forests and cliffs within the Gaurishankar Conservation Area, making it harder to extinguish, said Chief District Officer Kiran Thapa.

“With human efforts proving insufficient, a Simrik Air helicopter is being used to control the fire. The priority is to protect Rangbusa village by drawing water from Bhotekoshi,” Thapa said.

Personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police have been deployed.