102 Lives Lost in Fire Incidents Within One Year, NDRRMA Reports

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) disclosed that a staggering 102 individuals lost their lives in fire-related tragedies over the span of a year, from April 14, 2024, to April 3, 2024.

During this period, the country witnessed an alarming surge in fire incidents, with more than 3,795 cases reported across various regions, leading to significant casualties and widespread devastation, as per the NDRRMA.

Gomadevi Chemjong, spokesperson for NDRRMA, lamented that 4,725 families bore the brunt of these calamities, suffering displacement and loss of property amounting to over Rs 2.33 billion.

Although there was a temporary respite with decreased fire incidents during the rainy season, Chemjong cautioned that recent trends indicate a resurgence, underscoring the need for enhanced precautionary measures.

Tragically, fire-related fatalities topped the list of disaster casualties this year, with the exception of those resulting from the Jajarkot earthquake. Lightning claimed the lives of 43 individuals, while 20 succumbed to snakebites, 12 to avalanches, 43 to wild animal attacks, and five to wildfires during the same period, according to NDRRMA data.

The grim statistics underscore the urgency for proactive disaster management strategies to mitigate such losses, as the total death toll from various disaster incidents since April 14 last year stands at a staggering 477 lives lost.