KATHMANDU, April 23:Thirteen army personnel were killed while fighting forest fire in Ramechhap district Thursday, an army officer said. [break]
“Our 13 soldiers died while trying to prevent the fire from engulfing a hospital located near the forest,” said Army Colonel Mana Basnet.
Home Ministry official Hari Neupane said the soldiers were trapped from all sides after wind changed direction.
The soldiers were among 150 army personnel who had been fighting the fire. Teams of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were also engaged in the fire fighting.
The Army´s Directorate of Public Relations (DPR), in a statement, confirmed the 13 deaths.
The fire had raged in Srikhandanda located a kilometer west of the district headquarters. The fire had started from the southeastern part of the District Hospital located near the forest.
Security personnel were engaged in dousing the fire as it threatened to spread towards the hospital and well as the nearby Manbasti bazaar.
Neupane said the fire came under control in the evening.
The deceased are yet to be identified.
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