The Bethanchowk Rural Municipality in Kavrepalanchok has requested people avoid traveling to the Bethanchowk Narayansthan area. This includes the temple complex, which is at risk of fire.
According to a statement from Chief Administrative Officer Rajendra Bhandari, areas such as Narayansthan Temple and parts of Wards 1, 2, 3, and 5 are at risk. The municipality has urged everyone to stay away until the fire is under control.
The Bethanchowk Narayansthan Temple in Ward 3 is a well-known destination for both religious and tourist purposes. Located at an altitude of 3,018 meters, it is part of the Mahabharat mountain range. It is the highest point in Kavre and the 14th-highest peak in the Mahabharat range.
The fire, which started on Tuesday around 2 PM, has not been brought under control. Although the Nepal Army and Nepal Police are on-site, the steep terrain of the forest has made it difficult to extinguish the fire, according to Chief District Officer Umesh Kumar Dhakal.
Authorities are focusing on preventing the fire from spreading toward residential areas, which are about 3–4 kilometers away. Residents will be relocated if there is any immediate threat.
Assistant Police Inspector Ram Sagar Mahato from the local Falametar Police Station confirmed that the fire had not yet reached the nearby settlements.
