Authorities in Gandaki ill-prepared for fire-related disasters

Delayed response, insufficient fire engines, shortage of trained firefighters and fire engine drivers, and a lack of water refilling stations make disaster mitigation difficult.

Saraswati Harijan, owner of Srijana Furniture in Baglung Municipality, woke up at 2am on April 11 to find her factory alight in flames. In no time was she out of bed and outside her factory calling for help from her neighbours.