RAUTAHAT, April 12: With frequent fire outbreaks in the Tarai region, locals of a village in Rautahat district have fixed a time for lighting their earthen ovens.
As carelessness in cooking has been the cause of fire outbreak in most of the incidents, locals of Sangrampur VDC have come up with a decision to light fire for cooking within limited period.
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Cooking hours fixed to curb fire outbreaks
If any household is found lighting oven during other time besides the fixed hours, they will have to pay Rs 25,000 as fine, according to Sikindra Patel, technical assistant deputed at the VDC.
An assembly of local leaders, political cadres, intellectuals and teachers made the decision to limit the hours for cooking.
More than half a dozen villages were gutted by fire in the district within the last two days. Properties worth millions were destroyed. With rampant fire outbreaks, local organizations and local administration have started to seek ways to control fire.
As locals leave their homes for their farms without dousing fire in the earthen oven, this has often caused fire outbreaks. Short-circuit, poor handling of earthen stove, oil-fed lamps and use of petroleum products are the other main causes of fire.
"There is a need of awareness among people about proper handling of fire," argued Kanthamuni Jayaswal, president of Rautahat Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Meanwhile, Chief District Officer (CDO) Narhari Baral informed that the District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC) is currently making arrangements for relief materials to be distributed to the fire victims.
Gaur, Garuda and Chandranigahpur municipalities have been instructed to send fire engines to villages soon after the outbreak of fire is reported, according to CDO Baral.
