MYAGDI, April 12: Forest fires that broke out in more than 70 community forests in Myagdi district over the last one month have destroyed more than 2,000 hectares of forest area.

As a result, the wild animals have started entering human settlements from the forests while hundreds of trees and thickets have been burnt. Valuable herbs, birds and wild animals and other forest products have been destroyed.

Incidents of wildfires are taking place around Beni, the district headquarters, and various other places of the district along with the onset of the dry season, which is accompanied by high winds. The data shared by the Division Forest Office shows that forest from 10 to 150 hectares in area have been destroyed due to the raging fires.

Only four days back, bushfire damaged 65 hectares of forest area of the Bagarphant community forest at Jyamrukkot, Beni Municipality-2. Similarly, around 150 hectares of forest area was destroyed by a fire at the Mulchhahari community forest on Wednesday.

Security personnel and locals were mobilized to douse the forest fires, but could not bring the infernos under control even after two days of efforts.

"Valuable herbs, wild animals and numerous trees have been decimated by the raging forest fires," said Bhim Bahadur Rijal, a local.

The Division Forest Office, Myagdi stated that around 80 hectares of forest has suffered damages due to a blaze in the community forests at Niskot, Upallo Badarbang area in west Myagdi. The office said it is challenging to tame the wildfires due to the difficult topography as the forests are located on steep hill slopes.

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