KATHMANDU: A fire originating from a community forest has ravaged 13 houses in Barahpokhari rural municipality-1, Barahpokhari. The blaze, which began in the Barahpokhari community forest, engulfed 13 houses, seven lofts, and two sheds. Although the extent of the damage caused by the fire is yet to be fully assessed, initial reports indicate significant losses.

Among the affected properties are the homes and belongings of several local residents. Houses, lofts, and sheds belonging to individuals such as Mohanlal Thapa Magar, Purna Bahadur Magar, Bhadra Singh Magar, and others were engulfed by the flames. Additionally, Gangamaya Magar of Dancingtar suffered substantial losses, including two houses, two lofts, 40 goats, gold, and cash.

Efforts to extinguish the fire have been underway, with the Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and local residents mobilized for firefighting operations. Despite their collective efforts, the blaze has proved difficult to contain, as reported by local resident Bhuwan Shrestha. The ongoing firefighting attempts have yet to yield success in fully extinguishing the flames.

The incident adds to the concerning trend of fire-related disasters in the district, with 109 fire incidents recorded since mid-July, resulting in property damage estimated at Rs 40.9 million. The recurrence of such incidents underscores the importance of bolstering fire prevention measures and enhancing community preparedness to mitigate the impact of future disasters.