Mahabharat Forest Fire Contained After Days of Intense Efforts

The forest fire that engulfed parts of the Mahabharat mountain range in southern Kavrepalanchok has been successfully brought under control. The fire, which began last Tuesday afternoon in the Thamalekh Danda Community Forest of Khanikhola Rural Municipality-1, had spread extensively before being extinguished today.

The flames had advanced toward Bethanchowk Rural Municipality, particularly affecting areas like Ramite Danda and Jwanethumka, where they were finally controlled with the assistance of helicopters on Friday. The Division Forest Office, Dhulikhel, reported that coordinated efforts involving helicopters, security personnel, and local residents helped subdue the fire, which had taken a severe form earlier in the week.

According to Chinikaji Shrestha from the Division Forest Office, the fire caused significant damage to around 100 hectares of forest across five community forests in Khanikhola and Bethanchowk rural municipalities.

In related developments, the popular tourist destination Bethanchowk Narayansthan, which had been closed since Wednesday due to fire risks, has now reopened. The site, which includes the Narayansthan Temple and spans Ward Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5, had been temporarily off-limits to ensure the safety of domestic and international visitors.

Efforts to assess and recover from the damage are ongoing, with authorities emphasizing the need for vigilance to prevent future incidents.