By Prem Adhikari
Pashupatinagar, Jan. 18: A fire in the Antu Valley tea factory operated by Ilam Tea Producers Pvt. Ltd. has destroyed property worth over Rs. 130 million.
The factory situated at Ward No. 4 of Suryodaya Municipality caught fire Sunday afternoon.

The estimated loss was made public on Monday after the factory owners, Nepal Police and local representatives inspected the damages.
“Dryer machines, structures, heating machine, sorting machine and processed tea worth over Rs. 130 million was destroyed by the fire,” said Inspector Deu Prasad Limbu of Pashupatinagar Area Police Office.
“Over 80,000 kilogram of processed tea was destroyed”, said Omkar Kafle, proprietor of Ilam Tea Producers Pvt. Ltd.

Fire engines from Suryodaya Municipality, Ilam Municipality, Mechinagar Municipality and Bhadrapur Municipality alongside security personnel and local had extinguished the fire.
The factory had a capacity to process 15,000 kilogram tea daily. Established 25 years ago, the factory is Ilam’s second largest tea factory operated by private sector.
“The destruction of the factory has greatly affected hundreds of tea farmers in the area as well,” said Rudra Ghimire, a local businessman.