NEPALGUNJ: A dire situation unfolds as an extensive area spanning 5,133 hectares, encompassing various community forests and the Chakla forest in Banke, becomes engulfed in flames.

The District Forest Office in Banke reports that a staggering total of 76 community forests and the Chakla Forest have fallen victim to the blaze, casting a grim shadow over the region, which boasts around 100 community forests.

Birendra Rokka, serving as both Assistant Forest Officer and Information Officer of the District Forest Office, discloses that concerted efforts, including the deployment of fire-fighting vehicles manned by eight firefighters, have been instrumental in containing the inferno in most areas.

To stem the spread of the flames, authorities have taken proactive measures, constructing 30 kilometers of fire lines in the Chakla forest and an additional 20 kilometers in various community forests.

The ignition is attributed to the prolonged dry spell devoid of rainfall, exacerbated by human negligence.

Tragically, the toll of the blaze extends beyond the loss of vegetation, claiming the lives of numerous wildlife species such as rabbits, snakes, and various birds.

Concurrently, the ripple effects of the wildfires extend to human casualties, with Assistant Chief District Officer Jorasingh Majhi confirming 105 fire-related incidents across different localities of Banke.

Regrettably, one fatality and six injuries mark the human cost, alongside the demise of 104 cattle.

The economic ramifications are substantial, with property damages estimated at Rs 17.7 million arising from incidents in Narainapur, Raptisonari, Janaki, and Nepalgunj.