Forest fire in Timang jungle rages uncontrolled for 10 days
The fire started on the evening of Jan 31 and has continued to spread, destroying grazing areas for sheep, yaks, and other livestock.
KATHMANDU: A wildfire in Timang Jungle, Chame Rural Municipality-1, Manang has been burning uncontrollably for 10 days, with authorities struggling to contain it due to the region’s difficult terrain.
According to the District Administration Office, the fire started on the evening of Jan 31 and has continued to spread, destroying grazing areas for sheep, yaks, and other livestock.
Chief District Officer Matrika Acharya stated that all security forces have been mobilized, along with local residents, but the fire remains out of control.
“The fire is in a remote and complex geographical area, making it difficult to contain. Strong winds are further increasing the risk,” Acharya said. He added that efforts are underway to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby settlements, ensuring no immediate threat to human habitation.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project’s Ilaka Chief, Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, cited dry conditions, lack of snowfall, and accumulated dry vegetation as key reasons behind the wildfire. “Fires occur here every year due to dry weather and combustible materials like dead tree stumps,” Bhujel stated.
The fire has already destroyed rare wildlife habitats, including those of the endangered Himalayan Monal (Danphe) and rhododendron buds. Precious medicinal herbs such as Jatamansi, Panchaule, and Gucchi mushrooms are also being lost.
Past incidents indicate the severity of such fires. In 2020, a similar wildfire in Manang burned for two months, destroying 1,200 hectares of forest.
Local residents are urging all three tiers of government to take immediate and effective action before the fire spreads further.
