WORLD> Asia-Pacific
3,000 trees fall mysteriously in western Nepal
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-11 14:39

KATHMANDU -- In what locals believe to be the handiwork of some supernatural power, nearly 3,000 trees at a local community forest in Banke district in mid-western Nepal collapsed in a matter of 10 minutes, eKantipur.com reported on Thursday.

According to the website, locals have been completely baffled as the trees at the Shrikrishna Community Forest, some 360 km west of Kathmandu, fell in quick succession last Monday.

According to the locals, the land in the area has deep cracks. "There was neither a gale nor a storm during that day," said Tilak Bahadur Chand, a local.

Unable to explain the incident, people have resorted to supernatural theories. The open-mouthed locals have begun saying that the incident is ominous and they are now fearful something bad might happen soon.

"It is a bad omen," said another local. News about the incident spread quickly and every day people from the surrounding areas in huge numbers are visiting the site of the mystery. And they are offering different explanations -- many see in it the hand of some supernatural power.

Locals said they immediately apprised the District Forest Office (DFO) about the incident. They allege that the DFO has become a mere spectator, taking no initiative to find out the truth.

However, Hemlal Aryal, a forest official, said that they would soon visit the site to find out what is behind the incident.