Shuklaphanta national park ravaged by fires amid prolonged dry spell

Dhangadhi: Shuklaphanta National Park has been grappling with forest fires as the dry season sets in, despite efforts to protect the area.

Fires, attributed largely to human negligence, have damaged forest areas in Ranital, Barkaula, Gobariya, and other parts of the park. According to the park office, a fire that had been burning for a week has now been brought under control.

Park Chief Manoj Sah stated that fires from nearby fields, where farmers had set fire to crop stubble after harvesting wheat, had spread into the park. He reported that grass, vegetation, and ground foliage were destroyed, but emphasized that the fire remained a ground fire and did not cause extensive damage. "The fire has now been brought under control. It was a ground fire. Not much damage has been done," Sah said.

The absence of rainfall this year has intensified the situation, making forests more susceptible to fires. In response, a fire control team, including personnel from the Nepal Army, has been mobilized to tackle the outbreaks. Purushottam Wagle, the park's information officer, noted that small fires are still burning in some parts of the park and that the fire control team is actively working to extinguish them. "It is a challenge to control the big fire in the core area. However, the fire control team is working to extinguish the small fires," he said.

Officials warn that as the dry season continues, the risk of fires will remain high until the arrival of rains. Forest fires are currently being reported across various districts in the province. According to the Disaster Portal of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 958 fire incidents were recorded in Sudurpaschim Province between April 5, 2024, and April 5, 2025.

Fires in forest areas are often caused by human activities, such as deliberate burning, careless disposal of lit cigarettes, and occasionally by natural causes like sparks from falling stones. However, forest workers assert that human actions are the primary cause of such incidents.