MANANG, Feb 9: The fire that broke out in Timang forest of Chame Rural Municipality-1 in the Manang district has not been brought under control even after10 days. The forest fire had started in the evening of January 31.
The District Administration Office has stated that they have not been able to douse the fire due to the difficult topography of the area.
Chief District Officer (CDO) Matrika Acharya shared that they were facing a problem containing the wildfire as it is raging in a patch of forest on a cliff which is inaccessible.
He said officials from all the security agencies in the district have been mobilized to contain the wildfire.
Forest fire in Timang continues to rage, 1.5 hectares destroyed
"All the security agencies of the district have been mobilized to control the fire. Locals are also actively engaged in this task. However, we have not been able to bring the fire under control yet,” CDO Acharya said.
He said that the grazing pasture of sheep, goats, yaks and cattle in the forest have been destroyed as the fire could not be brought under control in time.
"The fire has started in a difficult location far away from the settlement and we are also under the risk of spread of forest fire as the place is also windy," CDO Acharya said, adding that the inferno has so far destroyed the habitat of the national bird, the lophophorous, and the budding rhododendron plants in the forest.
According to him, the security personnel and locals are trying their best to contain the fire wherever possible.
He said there was no risk of fire in the settlement, adding necessary measures are being adopted so that the fire does not spread elsewhere.
Chief of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Area Office, Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, said that the fire could not be brought under control due to excessive dryness of the area since there was not much snowfall this winter.
