The Study of Fire Disaster in Fungling Municipality of Taplejung

Abstract

A disaster is a serious problem occurring over a short or long period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss which goes beyond the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. Disasters are routinely divided into either "natural disasters" caused by natural hazards or "human-instigated disasters" caused from anthropogenic hazards. Nepal, most disaster prone South Asian country is exposed to a variety of natural hazards that cause disastrous damage to the built environment and result in loss of lives and properties. The most destructive natural hazards in Nepal are floods, landslides, earthquakes, and urban fire. Among different districts of Nepal, Fungling municipality of Taplejung is one of the most affected local level by fire-induced disaster. Fungling municipality recurrently is facing a Fire induced disaster till the date. The community efforts, government endeavor and current practice is not working properly to mitigate the risk mitigation of Fungling municipality. This study mainly focuses on the status of fire disaster in Nepal in general and cause and effect of Fungling Municipality of Taplejung in specific. So, to find the solution of given question, the study was focused on: To find the major causes of the repeated Fire disaster in Fungling Municipality of Taplejung, To find out the key factors that reduce or mitigate the Fire disaster in Fungling Municipality of Taplejung and To support to develop the roles and responsibility of local government and community people in risk reduction of Fire disaster in Fungling Municipality. For the research, the researcher have adopted qualitative research approach and adopted primary and secondary data as the source of information. The total respondent are taken to 30 community people and FGD/KII to key focal person of government offices. The finding reveals that the major causes of Fire disaster in Fungling municipality are negligence of community people, lack of proper planning by government, capacitated team for fire control, unplanned urban settlement, lightening and low quality of house wiring etc. Keywords: Disaster, Fungling, Recovery, hazards, negligence, settlement