Forest fires in Dhading have burned down several drinking water pipelines, causing water shortage in various parts of the district.

Around 2,000 people in the district headquarters of Dhading Besi have been affected after the water supply was cut off because of forest fires. Local resident Gyan Bahadur Singh said the 200,00 litre water tank has gone empty and the nearby water sources have also dried out.

Water shortage in Dhading has also been exacerbated because the Gorkha Earthquake that shifted the water table and the lack of rainfall. According to the District Disaster Management Committee, 324 water sources completely dried up after the quake.

Water shortage has also been reported in Khari, Nalang, Salang, Chainpur, Maidi, Dhola, Salyantar, Kumpur, Goganpani, Kebalpur, Jibanpur, Chhatredeurali, Jyamrung, Salyankot, Pida, Gajuri VDCs and Neelkantha Municipality.

Chief of the District Agriculture Development Office Mahendraraj Kaudal said Dhading was witnessing one of the worst incidents of forest fires. Prolonged dry spell and windy weather condition contributed to the disaster, he added.

There are 674 community and 495 leasehold forests in Dhading. The District Forest Office said forest fires have affected 85 percent of forest land in the district.

Blaze destroys six houses

BHOJPUR: Six houses were destroyed in a fire in Bhojpur on Friday. Police said the fire had spread into the settlement from a forest fire in Bidhyadhari Community Forest in Taksar. The houses caught fire due to strong winds, said police. However, locals and security personnel doused the fire later on.