Main Image Via Reuters.
On Friday (April 9th), five people died trying to put out fires that were spreading from a forest in Makwanpur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal.
According to Sundar Sharma, a senior official of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, this has been the worst fire season since 2012.
At least 60 places across 22 of Nepal’s 77 administrative districts are experiencing wildfires and it is contributing to the growing levels of pollution across the country.
For the past few years, forest fires are the main reason for the rising air pollution in Kathmandu, said Sharma.
“Wildfires could hit the peak later this month if the ongoing dry spell continued,“ he added.
Schools were ordered to close for four days at the end of March after the pollution level was deemed hazardous.
During the January-May dry season, forest fires often erupt in Nepal as villagers burn dry leaves to prompt fresh grass growth for their cattle.
Info Via The Sun Daily