- Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Nepal, Gulmi, April 22: A series of fire incidents has raised serious concerns in Gulmi district, where 306 hectares of forest and 58 houses and sheds have been damaged in recent months.
A few days ago, a fire broke out while cooking animal feed, destroying a cowshed belonging to Anantaram Gyawali in Ruru Kshetra Rural Municipality–4, Lamdanda. Although no livestock were harmed, the shed was completely destroyed, causing an estimated loss of Rs. 150,000.
Similarly, a cowshed owned by Kapil Shrestha in Ranibas–4 of the same rural municipality was reduced to ashes in a similar incident. Another fire during feed preparation destroyed a shed in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality–7, Dhuvakhola, according to the District Police Office.
Police records show that 58 fire incidents have been reported in Gulmi over the past nine months. Two people have died and four others—two men and two women—have been injured. Between mid-August and mid-May, eight houses and 27 sheds were destroyed, along with 28 livestock killed and five people injured. Two vehicles were also damaged.
Superintendent of Police Narayan Prasad Adhikari said the total financial loss from these incidents is estimated at around Rs. 5 million.
Earlier, on May 1, 2016 (Baisakh 18, 2073 BS), a forest fire that spread into a settlement from a nearby community forest destroyed 57 houses and 70 sheds in Musikot Municipality–4, Dajkot. Similarly, in 2024 (2081 BS), forest fires entering settlements in Isma Rural Municipality–2 and 4 destroyed 48 houses and sheds.
With settlements located below forest areas on steep hillsides, the risk of rapid fire spread remains high. Fires originating in nearby forests and grasslands often reach settlements due to difficult terrain, lack of water, and limited manpower.
As of Monday, fires were still raging in 10 different forest areas across the district. According to the Division Forest Office, a total of 436 hectares of forest have been affected so far.
Senior Forest Officer Kamal Regmi said 458 community forests cover 18,223.88 hectares in the district. Forest areas in Dhurkot, Musikot, and Resunga are considered the most fire-prone. In fiscal year 2024/25, fires affected 105 hectares, while in 2023/24, 2,042 hectares across 89 forest areas were damaged.
Most fires are caused by human activities. Over the past three years, legal action has been taken against two individuals, while four others were warned and released.
The Division Forest Office has formed a five-member fire control team for two and a half months. Sub-division forest offices operate in Uppallo Tamghas, Gaudakot, Ridi, Rupakot, Bastu, and Purkot.
Local governments near forest areas say they lack sufficient authority. Dhurkot Rural Municipality Chair Bhupal Pokhrel said delays in handing over community forests to local levels have created legal and administrative challenges, making it difficult to plan and implement effective fire prevention and control measures.
