Forest fire in Mahabharat doused using helicopter

Kavrepalanchowk, Jan 24: Efforts have been made to douse the fire that broke out in the community forest of the Mahabharata Mountain Range in the southern part of the district since Tuesday afternoon. A helicopter was used when the forest fire went out of control. 

The Simrik Air helicopter, provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, took under the fire that broke out nearby the settlement of Bethanchowk rural municipality today. 

The fire had started four days ago in the Mahabharata forest at Thamlekdanda of Khanikhola rural municipality-1. 

Bethanchowk rural municipality made attempts to douse the fire by arranging helicopter from the ministry when the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and other concerned agencies in the district could not bring the fire under control despite mobilizing human resources, rural municipality chair Bhagwan Adhikari said. 

Efforts made to douse the fire near the settlement through the mobilization of helicopter were successful. The fire had reached the border area of Bethanchowk-5, 3, 1 and 2 by Thursday evening.

Although the fire nearby the settlement has been brought under control, there is risk of an outbreak from the place where the fire first took place, the official said. (RSS)