Forest fire in Manang’s Timang jungle still uncontrolled

KATHMANDU: A forest fire that started on Friday evening in Timang Jungle, located in Chame Rural Municipality-1, remains uncontrolled as of Monday, according to the District Administration Office.

Chief District Officer Matrika Acharya stated that all three security forces have been deployed to douse the flames, but the difficult terrain is hindering efforts. “The fire broke out in a remote and rugged area, far from human settlements, making it challenging to control,” Acharya said.

Authorities have taken preventive measures to stop the fire from spreading further, ensuring nearby settlements are not at immediate risk.

However, the dry season and strong winds are fueling the fire.

According to Daka Bahadur Bhujel, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in Manang, around 1.5 hectares of forest have already burned. “The presence of dry vegetation, pine trees, and strong winds is making the situation worse,” he said. The fire threatens valuable medicinal plants such as jatamansi, panchaunle, and gucchi mushrooms, as well as wildlife habitats.

Since December, several fire incidents have been reported in Manang, including at Tal, Ice Lake, and Pisang Cliff. A major wildfire in 2020 burned 1,200 hectares of forest and took two months to be fully extinguished.

Efforts to control the fire are ongoing.