Bajura: A powerful cooking gas cylinder explosion at a hotel in Bamka Bazaar, Budhiganga Municipality-6, has disrupted internet and electricity services and destroyed 30 shops, severely impacting daily life in the region.

The fire broke out on Friday at the Nawadurga Hotel, located along the Sanfe-Martadi highway, after a gas cylinder exploded. According to Nepal Telecom’s Bajura branch, internet services were halted when the fire damaged telecom wires and power infrastructure.

Technician Gangaram Jaishi confirmed that the fire not only burned local wiring in Bamka Bazaar but also affected connections in Triveni and Budhiganga Municipalities, causing network failure even in Martadi, the district headquarters. He said a repair team from Dadeldhura is expected to arrive by Sunday to restore services.

The internet outage has affected media, government offices, and financial institutions, disrupting communication and administrative operations across the district.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Iqbal Hawari reported that the explosion destroyed 30 tin-roofed shops, primarily run by locals in retail and clothing businesses.

Chief District Officer Meghnath Padhya, along with the District Disaster Management Committee, visited the site and has formally requested immediate government relief for affected business owners and residents.