Wildfire in Mahabharat Range continues for third day; high alert in Kavrepalanchowk

KATHMANDU: A wildfire that began on Tuesday afternoon in the southern Mahabharat mountain range of Kavrepalanchowk remains uncontrolled.

The District Disaster Management Committee, in a meeting held on Thursday, decided to mobilize all available personnel and resources in coordination with stakeholders.

The fire, which originated in the community forest of Khanikhola Rural Municipality-1, Tham Lekh Danda, on the border of Bethanchowk and Mahabharat Rural Municipalities, poses a severe risk to nearby forests and human settlements.

In response, authorities have restricted access to the Narayansthan tourist area to prevent further incidents. Bethanchowk Rural Municipality reported that parts of wards 1, 2, 3, and 5, including the Narayansthan Temple, are now at risk.

Local authorities have issued a public notice urging domestic and international tourists, along with residents, to avoid the affected areas until the fire is brought under control.

Bethanchowk Rural Municipality Chairperson Bhagwan Adhikari stated that security forces, including the Nepal Army and Police, are actively engaged in firefighting efforts. “We have alerted all stakeholders to exercise utmost caution in the fire-affected areas,” Adhikari added.

Chief District Officer Umesh Kumar Dhakal said security forces and local teams are working together to contain the fire. He emphasized monitoring forest fires near human settlements to prevent further spread.

Instructions have been issued to evacuate residents if necessary.

According to the Division Forest Office, Dhulikhel, the fire started around 2 PM on Tuesday in a steep forested area.

Efforts to control the fire have been ongoing but remain unsuccessful, stated Krishna Bahadur Thapa, head of the District Forest Office.

A team dispatched for assessment is working to map the fire’s impact on forests and nearby settlements.

A joint meeting of district administration, forest offices, and security forces has decided to provide necessary firefighting tools and to identify and take legal action against individuals responsible for starting the fire.

The Subdivision Forest Office has been instructed to coordinate with local governments, forest user federations, and security forces to manage the situation.

CDO Dhakal mentioned that additional personnel and equipment might be mobilized with coordination from the Ministry of Home Affairs if the fire continues to spread. “We are treating this situation with the utmost sensitivity and will escalate our response as required,” he said.

The fire, now raging for three days, has severely impacted the biodiversity-rich Mahabharat forest, home to valuable medicinal herbs, wildlife, and bird habitats.

Residents near Bhugdeu in Bethanchowk Rural Municipality-6 expressed concerns about protecting these vital resources.

The fire is reportedly about four kilometers from the nearest human settlement, with no casualties or animal losses reported so far, according to the District Police Office, Dhulikhel.

Efforts to control the fire are ongoing, with authorities racing against time to prevent further destruction.