An office building in Baluwatar belonging to Subisu, the Internet service provider, caught fire on Wednesday afternoon. A thick black plume of smoke could be glimpsed emerging from the building from around Kathmandu.

A store of petrol in the building is believed to be behind the blaze, according to DSP Fadindra Prasain of the Metropolitan Police Circle.

"Further reports will only be available after security forces reach the site," said DSP Hobindra Bogati of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range. Personnel from the Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and Nepal Army are currently at the site and are fighting the fire alongside the Juddha Barun Kathmandu Fire Brigade.

"The fire is expanding, but we have not received any report of human casualty yet," said Bogati. “Firefighters and fire trucks are making every attempt to extinguish the fire."