One dead, five injured in forest fire

 By Radha Luitel, Phidim, Apr.4: One died while five others sustained injuries in separate forest fire incidents in Panchthar.

Pratima Sambahamphe, aged 22, who sustained serious injury in a forest fire in Kummayak Rural municipality in Panchthar, has passed away.

She died near Bhedetar in Dhankuta while being taken to Dharan for treatment. 

While being taken to Dharan for treatment, he died near Bhedetar in Dhankuta, said Police Inspector Binalal Sah (Teli) of District Police Office Panchthar.

Local Sapana Sambahamphe, aged 28, of Kummayak Rural municipality-3 Panchthar, her 11-year-old daughter Siwana Sambahamphe, and 60-year-old Nirmaya Sambahamphe, who were injured in a fire that broke out in the private forest of Amarsingh Thapa and Padam Khadka, have been admitted to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for treatment.

Dhan Bahadur Bishwakarma of Kummayak-1 suffered a broken leg while trying to douse the fire.

Similarly, 47-year-old local Ushakala Nembang Rai is in critical condition after being caught in a forest fire that broke out on Thursday afternoon in the forest of Jawari, Phidim Municipality-13.

He was caught in a wildfire while searching for firewood in the forest.

 Police said that after initial treatment at Panchthar Hospital, Nembang was referred to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for further treatment. His condition is also critical.