KATHMANDU: Fire incidents have surged across the country in recent days, largely due to negligence, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
Between 10:00 am on January 7 and Thursday morning, a total of 19 disaster-related incidents were reported nationwide, of which 15 were fires. These incidents left 48 people injured and claimed one life, while the estimated financial loss stood at Rs 1.112 million.
The authority said fires were reported in multiple districts, including Sunsari, Siraha, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Achham and Dadeldhura. Forest fires were also recorded in Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Myagdi, Rukum and Kalikot. In addition, incidents involving animal attacks were reported in Udayapur, Rautahat, Surkhet and Doti.
A similar trend was observed earlier in the week. From the morning of January 6 to January 7, a total of 19 disaster incidents were reported, 17 of which were fire-related. Likewise, 24 disaster incidents were recorded from the morning of January 6 to 7, with 18 involving fires.
Authorities say fire incidents tend to increase during the winter season due to multiple factors. The Nepal Electricity Authority has attributed the rise mainly to a lack of precautionary measures, citing electrical short circuits, accidental fires in straw huts, and unattended fires in barns as major causes.
The authority has urged the public to remain vigilant, properly extinguish fires after use, and avoid careless storage of flammable materials to prevent further incidents.
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