Wildfires have ravaged 82 hectares of forest in Sindhupalchok, particularly in the upper regions of Jugal and Bhotekoshi rural municipalities, but all fires are now under control.

According to the District Police Office, the affected areas include forests within the Gaurishankar Conservation Area in Bhotekoshi and Tripurasundari, as well as Jugal and Lisankhu Pakhar rural municipalities.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Uma Shankar Yadav said wildfires had severely impacted six forest areas before being contained by Sunday.

The fires ignited simultaneously on Thursday in Jhyangwari forest of Lisankhu Pakhar-2, Charedanda Mulkharkha Community Forest of ward 5, and Chandrankhu Sherpa Ghumelan Community Forest of Bhotekoshi-5. They were doused by Sunday.

Similarly, a wildfire in Purke Danda forest of Tripurasundari-1, within the Gaurishankar Conservation Area, was extinguished on Saturday with the help of Green Volunteer teams, activist Sharad Prasad Chalise said.

A fire that started in Syangji Community Forest of Jugal-2 on Thursday was controlled by Sunday. Security personnel and locals were mobilised to protect the forests.

Three days ago, a fire broke out in Kharanefodan Community Forest on the border of Jugal-7. Due to the difficult terrain, security forces and locals struggled to contain the flames, but the fire has now been extinguished.

A wildfire in Liping forest of Bhotekoshi-2, near the Nepal-China border, burned last Friday before being contained by Saturday. Around 35 hectares of forest were destroyed, DSP Yadav said.

Attempts to douse the Liping fire using a Simrik Air helicopter failed. The helicopter carried 800 litres of water from the Bhotekoshi River 54 times before the operation was called off.

Authorities believe the Liping fire was triggered by welding work at the tunnel site of the under-construction Liping Khola Hydropower Project.

Meanwhile, police have detained a 70-year-old man, Daulat Syangbo of Kipche, on suspicion of setting fires in Kipche, Pati Chaur, and other areas. He is being questioned at the Jalbire Area Police Office.