Nepal, April 22 -- Over the past two days, a spate of fires-both house fires and forest fires-have wreaked havoc in various districts. An elderly woman died in Rukum West while more than 230 houses and animal sheds were destroyed in Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Rupandehi and Saptari districts, destroying property worth millions of rupees.

Seventy-year-old Budi Kami was burnt to death while she attempted to protect her house from forest fire in Nipane village in ward 3 of Baphikot Rural Municipality in Rukum West on Sunday. According to Janak Kumar Batha, chairman of Baphikot Rural Municipality, the incident happened as the victim attempted to control forest fire by destroying her house.

The forest fire entered the settlement and destroyed four ...