Fire damages property worth Rs. 5 million in Singha Durbar

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 9: A fire broke out at the Ministry of Water Supply on Saturday morning, causing an estimated loss of around Rs. 5 million. 

The fire occurred in three rooms of the fourth floor of the building in which the Ministry of Water Supply and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport are housed. 

In the incident, two televisions, a desktop computer, a water heater, tables, sofas, chairs, carpets, cc cameras, its monitor and other items were damaged. 

According to Under Secretary Ramakanta Duwadi of the ministry, the estimated damage in the minister’s office is between Rs. 4 million and Rs. 5 million. 

Duwadi said that the cause of the fire remains unknown. The police are conducting an investigation. Fortunately, no official documents were damaged.

"The fire affected three rooms, including Minister Yadav’s office and his secretariat," according to DSP Dinesh Ghimire, chief of the Singha Durbar Security Battalion in Singha Durbar.

DSP Ghimire said that the fire which broke out at 8:10 am was brought under control with the help of fire engines from the Juddha Fire Fighting Office, New Road. The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes of effort, he said. 

Meanwhile, repair and maintenance works on the fire-damaged Ministry of Water Supply have begun. Following an inspection by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, on Saturday, the ministry immediately started repair work, stated Water Supply Minister Pradeep Yadav's secretariat.

Earlier on July 9. 1973, a massive fire destroyed the most parts of Singh Durbar, the main palace housing the central secretariat of Nepal government.  Built by Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher Rana in 1908, Singh Durbar became national property in 1953, two years after the fall of the Rana rule. Repaired after the 1973 fire incident, the Singha Durbar also suffered a damage in 2015 earthquake and was retrofitted in 2023.

The entire area where the government ministries are now located in different buildings, including the buildings of Radio Nepal and Nepal Television is now called Singha Durbar.