On Monday morning, a huge fire broke out in a noodle factory in Kavre. A fire engine from Bhaktapur and two from Kathmandu rushed to the venue. Kavre's own fire engine, however, sat useless at the municipality premises. This is not a first time. Whenever a fire breaks out here, help has to be called in from the Valley. Kavre's only fire engine was gifted by the German government in 1993 but hasn't been used even once. The fire engine does not have a tank and its pipe has to be joined to a tap. "In most areas, the source of water is a pond or a stream and so we were unable to use the fire engine," says former President of Banepa Development Committee Rabin Shakya.

For years, the fire engine has been parked that the municipality's backyard. In 2006 the vehicle was vadalised by protesters. There are several plywood, noodle, matchstick, sandal, biscuit and other factories in Kavre. There are four gas factories and over 20 petrol stations.

"We have always depended on Bhaktapur and Kathmandu whenever there is a fire incident," says Satosh Tamang, a local police. "In case the roads get blocked and they can't make the trip, the result will be disastrous."

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