A wildfire is burning through a community forest in Pyuthan district, already wiping out 300 hectares of forest cover and destroying at least six homes since Tuesday.

Security personnel and locals were struggling to contain the fire that started from Damudanda Community Forest in Pyuthan Municipality-1 until late Wednesday afternoon. 

The fire, fuelled by wind, has spread into Bhadrechaur and Thulabhir community forests in the last two days, according to District Forest Officer Prabin Bidari. 

Locals said all their efforts to bring the fire under control were undermined by strong wind. Resham Basnet, a resident of Dharmapani, said they did not sleep on Tuesday night because of fear.

Some families in the village have even started to remove their belongings from their homes, he added. 

The villagers of Khirakot, Kimikot, Khairadhad and Pandeyadanda have also been terrorised.

Chief District Officer Krishna Bahadur Ghimire said 200 Nepal Army soldiers were deployed to Pandeyadanda on Wednesday to bring the blaze under control. The district administration has also started to distribute relief aid to the families who lost their homes and belongings in the disaster.