A forest fire in Zhemgang is raging on for the third day today. The fire, which is spreading towards south to the Royal Manas National Park, Yebilaptsa has already destroyed about 700 acres of forests.
The fire is said to have started below the Panbang-Gonphu road, a few kilometres away from Yebilaptsa hospital at around 1 am on Sunday.
About 1000 firefighters comprising of police, forest officials, students and volunteers are trying to contain the fire. According to our reporter Pema Samdrup, the forest officials suspect discarded burning cigarette butts to be the cause of the fire.
Except for partial damage to Yebilaptsa hospital’s laundry house, no other damage has been reported as yet.
