Chandannath: In the recent past, a fire erupted in a mobile phone shop located in the Khalanga Bazaar area of Chandannath Municipality-5, causing significant alarm among local residents due to the high risk of the fire spreading to nearby buildings.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the timely intervention using a dry riser from a fire hydrant installed near the shop successfully helped firefighters, security officials, and volunteers to extinguish the flames. This prompt action prevented what could have been a serious disaster in the densely populated bazaar area, as recalled by local residents.
Akabar Nath Chhetri, a resident of Chandannath Municipality-5, expressed relief that the fire hydrant pipeline was operational, suggesting that several houses could have been destroyed otherwise. The fire hydrants in the municipality were established through the financial and technical support of the Swiss Red Cross, as part of the Urban Preparedness and Emergency Response Promotion Project by the Nepal Red Cross Society Jumla Chapter. These hydrants have been strategically placed in wards no. 2, 3, and 5.
Additionally, volunteers have been trained to educate the local community on the proper usage of these fire hydrants. Lal Bahadur Bhandari, a volunteer with the Nepal Red Cross Society, mentioned that community members are now better informed about emergency disaster responses.
Deputy Mayor of Chandannath Municipality, Ramdevi Khadka, highlighted the importance of these hydrants in the city’s fire safety strategy, particularly noting that Khalanga Bazaar is a high-risk area for fires. The project also includes two motorcycles designated for immediate response by firefighters, enabling quick access to fire outbreak sites.
This initiative follows the successful installation of fire hydrants in densely populated areas such as Ason and Indrachowk in the Kathmandu Valley. Mona Aryal, Director of the Nepal Red Cross Society, noted that the use of fire hydrants in Jumla is part of a broader strategy to control fires effectively, building on previous successes in the Kathmandu Valley.
In addition to the fire hydrant project, a high-tech siren has been installed at Ghamdanda in Chandannath Municipality-6, serving as an early warning system for potential disasters. Information Technology Officer Bikalpa Budha Thapa commented that this system is crucial for disseminating information to keep communities alert and informed about possible risks and other relevant issues.