Biratnagar hotels directed to install fire extinguishers

The Biratnagar Metropolitan City has ordered all the hotels and restaurants in the metropolis to compulsorily install fire extinguishers. The metropolis' this order comes as it steps up in implementing its decisions.

In this connection, the metropolis also held a consultation with the hotel and restaurant operators. A fire had broken out at the Nanglo Restaurant adjacent to local Tinpaini a month back. The fire gutted goods and property worth millions due to the lack of fire extinguishers at the hotel.

The fire could have been brought under control and prevented from spreading further had there been fire extinguishers on hand, police said.

The hoteliers participating in the meeting expressed their readiness to implement every decision of the metropolis for making the city safe and better managed, said Rajan Shrestha, who is the president of Hotel Association Nepal, Province no 1.

"The metropolis has made a welcome decision. This is for our own safety. We will install fire extinguishers as soon as possible as per the standard and capacity of the hotels," he said.

It is found that even the big hotels in Biratnagar have not installed fire extinguishers.

Mayor Nagesh Koirala and deputy mayor Shilpa Nirala Karki were among the metropolis officials present in the consultations. The hotel entrepreneurs have expressed their commitment to following the 'positive' decisions of the metropolis.