KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen,” stated that although he tried to send the city’s fire brigade immediately after a fire broke out at Singha Durbar, protesters blocked their efforts.

At a time when the local government is facing widespread criticism for remaining silent while a major fire engulfed Singha Durbar, Balen clarified today on Facebook that the fire brigade could not act because protesters obstructed them.

He said, “Immediately after the fire at Singha Durbar, we tried to send the fire brigade, but due to the obstruction by protesters, the fire brigade could not reach the site.”

He also mentioned that even though the Nepal Army’s fire trucks were inside Singha Durbar, they were unable to attempt extinguishing the fire.

Balen added, “The Nepal Army’s fire trucks were present inside Singha Durbar, but they could not act because the crowd did not allow the fire trucks to operate. Once the crowd calmed down slightly, the Kathmandu Metropolitan fire brigade reached the site by 8:15 PM on the September 9.”

During the Gen Z movement on September 8 and 9, various structures across the capital and other parts of the country were vandalized and set on fire.

Singha Durbar was among the sites affected by the fire.