Saptari fire incidents cause devastating losses

BY BINAY KARNA,Saptari, Apr. 10: Saptari, a district frequently affected by fires, has once again suffered significant damage this year. 

According to the data, the first nine months of this fiscal year have seen huge losses due to fire incidents. As in previous years, Saptari has faced devastating losses, with millions of rupees worth of property destroyed by fires.

From July to March, the district has experienced 140 fire incidents. According to the district police office, these fires have caused damage totalling Rs. 47,635,700. Affected properties include houses, sheds, livestock, grains, clothes, gold, silver and cash. Additionally, damages could increase further due to strong winds in April and May.

According to police statistics, six fire incidents occurred between mid-July to mid-August, six from mid-August to mid-September, four from mid-September to mid-October, eight from mid-October to mid-November, 23 from mid-November to mid-December, 28 from mid-December to mid-January, 14 from mid-January to mid-February, 22 from mid-February to mid-March and 29 from mid-March till date, totalling 140 incidents. 

These fires have resulted in injuries to 11 women, four men and one child. Additionally, 89 temporary houses, 43 sheds and two permanent houses were destroyed, along with the deaths of 98 livestock. According to Superintendent of Police Dhakendra Khatiwada, the total value of damages is approximately Rs. 47.6 million. 

The main causes of these fires are the careless use of firepits (chulhas) and electrical short circuits. Rajesh Jha, Disaster Management Officer of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality, said that people often light fires for warmth during the winter or to ward off mosquitoes in the summer, which leads to these incidents. He also pointed out that faulty electrical wiring and fire pits in sheds are frequent causes of fire outbreaks.

The period from mid-February to mid-May is locally referred to as ‘Khadmaas,’ a time when temperatures rise and strong winds make the area particularly prone to fires. Despite the cold weather during the winter season, 28 fire incidents occurred from mid-December to mid-January alone, indicating the role of human negligence in these disasters. Jha emphasised the need for increased awareness programmes, especially in rural areas where many houses are still thatch-roofed and highly vulnerable to fires.

Surya Narayan Yadav, president of the Dharmi Halfa Women’s Development Club, said that recovery from fire damage is a challenging process. Despite providing relief for 10 years, he pointed out that families who lose everything -- homes, clothes, livestock -- struggle to rebuild their lives. He said that even with relief efforts, it takes years for families to return to their previous state, as rebuilding from the ground up is a long and difficult process.

Yadav suggested that disaster management committees should increase financial support for severely affected families to help them recover more quickly and show more empathy.