Fire kills one in Lalitpur, destroys seven houses in Sarlahi

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May.1:  A man was killed and another man was injured while extinguishing that fire that broke out in Tapeshwar Community forest, Godavari Municipality-4, Lalitpur. 

According to the police, critically injured Shankar Pahari, who was taken to Kirtipur-based Burn Hospital, died while undergoing treatment on Tuesday afternoon. 

Another man, Ramesh Pahari, is receiving treatment in the same hospital, according to the Superintendent of Police and Spokesperson for the District Police Range, Lalitpur, Naresh Raj Subedi. 

The fire that has been raging for three to four days in Lele forest located in Godavari of Lalitpur has also spread to Ananda forest of Godavari Municipality-6.   With the spread of fire in Ananda forest, the leprosy hospital operating there is at high risk of being caught by fire. As the fire approached the hospital, the patients were shifted elsewhere, said SP Subedi.

According to Subedi, 93 patients have been relocated to a safe place.

Meanwhile, our Sarlahi Correspondent said that seven houses in Dhankaul Rural Municipality-2 of Sarlahi were destroyed in a fire on Tuesday.  

The fire that began from the House of Suresh Mandal because of a short circuit, spread to other houses and gutted seven houses in total 

According to the Area Police Office of Barthahawa, the houses of Suresh Mandal, Ganesh Mandal, Shankar Mandal, Ram Pravesh Mandal, Ramprit Mandal and Shvaji Mandal were destroyed in the fire.   Likewise, a poultry farm operated by a local Rohan Bhujel and the adjoining house were destroyed by fire in Harion Municipality-3. 

Initially, it appears that the fire was caused by an electric short circuit, but further investigation is underway regarding the incident, said Anil Raj Giri, Police Inspector of the Area Police Office, Harion. 

According to Giri, the poultry farm, three houses built for living near the farm, five quintals of mustard, pots and other materials in the farm were destroyed. Similarly, 26 chickens and 20 ducks were burnt to death.

The fire broke out on the farm when there was nobody around. The  fire that started at around 8:30 pm on Monday was brought under control around 9:45 pm with the help of villagers, police and fire brigade from Harion Municipality.

Meanwhile, another fire broke out in Kavilashi Municipality-10, Salempur of Sarlahi on Monday evening caused damages worth Rs. 200,000. 

According to police station Kavilashi, the reason behind the fire has not been known.