A woman died in a fire that broke out on Tuesday morning in Makhantole, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-24, after a suspected leak in an LP gas cylinder.
According to Apil Raj Bohara, spokesperson for the District Police Range, Kathmandu, the fire started in the house of Dayaram Shrestha. “The body has been recovered, but the identity of the deceased has yet to be confirmed,” he said.
The blaze also spread to an adjacent house, causing further damage.
The District Police Range Kathmandu said the fire was brought under control with the help of fire engines of the Kathmandu and Lalitpur metropolises and the combined efforts of the Nepali Army, the Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and locals.
A body of a woman in her 70s has been retrieved from the incident site, police said.
An investigation into the incident is underway.
In early February, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) had issued a notice urging the public to stay alert as fire incidents had been increasing.
NDRRMA spokesperson Dr. Dijan Bhattarai said that most of the fires are man-made and can be prevented with timely precautions.
Meanwhile, the District Police Range, Kathmandu, reported 34 fire incidents in the city between mid-December and early-February. In a public notice, the police office advised residents to keep flammable materials like matches and lighters away from children, install smoke detectors, and practice fire escape drills.
In case of a fire, the notice urges people to alert others by sounding an alarm or shouting and to evacuate immediately. It warns against hiding inside buildings and advises confirming that all family members have exited safely. The notice also instructs the public to contact the police (100), fire service (101), or local authorities without any delay.
For those escaping through smoke-filled areas, crawling with the head down is recommended to facilitate breathing. Additionally, if clothing catches fire, individuals should stop and extinguish the flames before moving, as running can cause the fire to spread more rapidly. -- RSS updated news
