Palpa, July 27 -- A rapidly spreading outbreak of rice hispa, a destructive beetle that feeds on rice leaves, has damaged paddy fields across parts of Palpa district, prompting local authorities to launch emergency pest control measures.

The infestation has spread across several farming areas in Purbakhola Rural Municipality, where farmers say newly transplanted rice crops have been severely affected. In many fields, the insects have stripped the leaves, causing the plants to turn yellow and raising concerns over significant crop losses if the outbreak is not contained quickly.

According to the municipality's agriculture section, rice hispa has been reported in wards 1 through 5, including Siluwa, Jalpa, Ringneraha, Devinagar and Birkot...