Bettiah: A fire broke out at a solar power plant at Belatandi village under Bankatwa panchayat in the remote Don region bordering the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in West Champaran district on Monday afternoon. The fire completely gutted the facility, disrupting electricity supply to two villages.According to local residents, the fire spread rapidly and reduced the entire plant to ashes before any effective firefighting could begin. Fire brigade teams were unable to reach the site in time due to the area’s difficult and inaccessible terrain. “The solar plant was the sole source of electricity for the area. Because of the hilly and forested terrain, fire tenders could not reach here,” said Deepak Pawe, a villager, adding that even decades after Independence, conventional power supply has not reached the region.“Around 22 villages in the Don area depend on off-grid solar systems, and this plant supplied electricity to two villages. After the fire, these villages have been plunged into darkness, which is especially worrying given the proximity to forest areas,” he added.Another resident alleged negligence in maintenance, claiming the fire was caused by poor upkeep of the facility. “The staff, responsible for maintaining the plant, was often absent. This is a forest area where wild animals frequently come near homes. Living in darkness here is dangerous,” the villager said.Alok Amritanshu, executive engineer of the Bagaha electricity supply division, said power supply in the region is provided through off-grid systems. “Instructions have been issued to officials concerned to investigate the cause of the fire. Alternative arrangements will be made soon to restore electricity in the affected villages,” he said.