Panchthar Forest Fire update: Two dead, four injured

By Radha Luitel, Phidim, Apr.4: Two people died in separate forest fire incidents in the Panchthar district. 

The deceased have been identified as Pratima Sambahamphe, aged 22, Kummayak Rural municipality-3 in Panchthar, and 47-year-old Ushakala Nembang Rai of Jawari, Phidim Municipality-13. 

Rai was caught in a wildfire while searching for firewood in the Jawari forest of Phidim-13 on Thursday afternoon.

Family sources have stated that she died on the way to the Burn Hospital in Kathmandu.

Pratima Sambahamphe, aged 22, of Kummayak Rural municipality-3, who was trapped in a forest fire, died on Thursday night. 

Police Inspector Binalal Sah (Teli) of District Police Office Panchthar said that 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, are undergoing treatment at City Hospital in Biratnagar. 

According to family sources, Sapana and Nirmaya are in critical condition. 

Dhan Bahadur Bishwakarma of Kummayak-1 suffered a broken leg while trying to douse the fire, while 11-year-old Shiwana Sambahamphe sustained an injury. 

Seven civilian houses of civilians have been gutted in a fire in Kummayak. 

The District Police Office, Panchthar, said that the fire has caused damage worth more than Rs. 4 million.