BAGLUNG, Nov 26: More than four dozen houses and sheds were reduced to ashes following a massive fire in Dhropatan Municipality-9 in Baglung district on Sunday morning.
Fortunately, there were no human casualties as the locals had come down to the plains to escape the winter. The fire, which started at around 2:30 am, could not be doused until 8 am, according to Sagar Subedi, an official of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.
“The fire broke out at around 2:30 am and we started dousing it two hours later,” said Subedi, adding, “Nepal Army and the reserve staff were involved in dousing the fire. Despite their efforts, 48 houses were gutted.”
Three houses gutted in fire in Bajura
Other 30 houses of the settlement were untouched by the fire, thanks to the efforts of police, army and the officials of the reserve. Indra Shahi of Hanumandhwaj Battalion informed that the fire that started from one house destroyed all the other houses.
“As all the houses were attached to each other, the fire that started from one spread to others,” said Shahi. Army prevented the fire from spreading to the reserve by digging trenches.
The reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bal Narsingh Rana who is the spokesperson of the District Police Office (DPO) informed Republica that the fire destroyed 48 houses, causing damage worth Rs 33 million.
“There were no human casualties but property worth more than Rs 33 million has been gutted by the fire,” said DSP Rana.
Investigation has been initiated to find out the reason behind the fire. Most of the houses had roof made of wood, thatch and stones.
