GORKHA, Dec 26: An inferno in a forest of Samagaun in Gorkha’s Chunumbri Rural Municipality-1, which started from Sunday night, has been blazing for two days. The fire has continued till Tuesday night, according to the locals. 

“The forest fire has not come under control. But the smokes from the fire has reduced to some extent now,” said Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhola Rawal of the District Police Office (DPO), Gorkha. 

Locals said the fire started from a cigarettes butt thrown by a tourist on the Manaslu Circuit. The fire spread rapidly and caused much harm to the thick forest. It has also killed numerous birds and animals found in the Himalayan region. 

Locals suspect that many endangered animals have perished in the forest fire. Five burnt bodies of musk deer have been recovered. The exact number of animals killed in the fire is yet unknown. The place where the fire broke out is a remote area where there is weak signal for telecommunication, delaying the flow of information, according to police. 

According to Chief District Officer Gajendra Bahadur Shrestha, they have requested a helicopter from the Ministry of Home Affairs as the inferno has spread to a large area. 

“We were unable to bring the fire under control on Monday as well. We fear it could spread further and even affect the monasteries and settlements,” he said.

 
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