Massive Sugarcane Fire in Siraha Destroys Crops, Causing Over NPR 11 Million in Losses

Siraha. Sugarcane planted across approximately 30 bighas of land was destroyed in a fire that broke out this afternoon in Ghlatol of Lahan Municipality-13 here.

According to preliminary reports, the police stated that the fire caused losses amounting to approximately NPR 11.6 million for 25 local farmers. Deputy Superintendent of Police Kailash Rai, chief of the Area Police Office, Lahan, said that a police team rushed to the scene immediately after receiving information that the fire had started from the middle of the sugarcane field in the afternoon. He added that the fire was prevented from spreading to human settlements with the help of local residents.

The fire was completely extinguished after about 4 hours with the assistance of a fire engine that arrived from Golbazar Municipality. Help was sought from Golbazar because the motor for spraying water from the fire engine that went from Lahan Municipality broke down.

According to the police, since the fire started from the middle of the sugarcane field, it is suspected that someone might have carelessly discarded a cigarette or bidi butt or that the fire was set intentionally. The police have stated that an investigation into the incident has been initiated. Affected farmer Ramlakhan Mandal lamented that he had planned to use the income from selling the sugarcane for household expenses and to repay loans, saying, "The investment is also lost; the culprit must be identified and action taken along with compensation." Another farmer, Kapildev Yadav, demanded legal action against whoever set fire to the sugarcane, calling it a crime against the farmers.

According to him, with the availability of fertilizer and irrigation before and after planting sugarcane, an average yield of 30 to 35 quintals per kattha is achieved. When sold to the sugar industry, the income is NPR 620 per quintal plus a government subsidy of NPR 70, totaling NPR 690. Based on this, estimating that approximately 18,000 quintals of sugarcane were burned across the 30 bigha area, the loss is estimated to reach up to NPR 12.42 million, he stated.