Manang, Feb 4: The forest fire that broke out in Timang Jungle, Chame Rural Municipality-1, on Friday evening remains uncontrolled as of Monday, according to the District Administration Office (DAO), Manang.
Chief District Officer Matrika Acharya stated that despite the deployment of all three security forces, the fire has yet to be contained. “Efforts are ongoing, and security personnel, along with local teams, are actively working to extinguish the fire. However, the difficult terrain has made the operation challenging,” he said. He also assured that precautionary measures have been taken to prevent the fire from spreading to settlements, minimizing immediate risk to residential areas.
Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Manang, explained that the dry season and the presence of dried vegetation have made it difficult to control the blaze. “Every year, wildfires occur in protected areas due to dry weather and dead tree stumps, which fuel the flames,” he added.
The fire has already affected approximately 1.5 hectares of forest land, destroying valuable herbs like Wild Yam, Lauth Salla, Jatamasi, Panchaunle, and Guchi Chyau. Bhujel also warned that the fire could further escalate due to pine trees, dry leaves, and strong winds.
The wildfire poses a significant threat to wildlife, birds, and grazing lands for yaks. Since the Nepali month of Mangsir 2081BS, multiple fire incidents have been reported in Taal, Ice Lake, and Pisang.
In 2077 BS, a wildfire in Manang lasted for two months, destroying 1,200 hectares of forest land. Authorities fear that without immediate control, the current fire could also cause severe ecological damage. #nepal #forestfire #Manang
