Environment

Mass tree collapse mystery in Nepal

by Yuliya Talmazan | September 11, 2008 at 10:07 am

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3000 trees are estimated to have mysteriously collapsed at a forest in mid-western Nepal. For no apparent reason, all of them just fell down in the time stretch of 10 minutes as reported by eyewitnesses. The locals were completely dumbfounded by the mass tree collapse and attributed it to supernatural powers.

According to the website, locals have been completely baffled as the trees at the Shrikrishna Community Forest, some 360 km westof 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.