Kalikot, Jan. 10 -- A forest fire broke out on November 27 in Saldanda Community Forest of ward 4 of Khandachakra Municipality in Kalikot. The wildfire that started at around 5 am was brought under control only by 2 pm due to strenuous effort by the locals. The blaze-deliberately set with the hope that it would help grass sprout quickly for cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats-destroyed around 5,000 saplings planted as part of community-led afforestation efforts.

"The dry ridge above Saldanda was finally turning green. The fire wiped out everything," said Prabhananda Acharya, the ward 4 chair. He said the steep terrain made it extremely difficult to contain the flames, underscoring how vulnerable Kalikot's forests are. "We had to struggle ...