Kathmandu. Dhruba Thapa, the immediate past president of NADA Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA), is known for his entrepreneurship, social service and humanitarian contributions for the past three decades. However, the fire in his showroom and house in Pokhara has forced him to deal with the biggest pain of his life.

“I wasn’t a political person. Neither corrupt nor smugglers,” Thapa said, “I started my business at the age of 17 while studying in college. I have come here after facing all the ups and downs and risks. I have been encouraging others to do business saying that there is a lot of potential in Nepal. ’

The fire has not only damaged Thapa’s house but also his morale. Thapa said that the house built on the land earned by his father and grandfather, which was associated with 35 years of hard work and sweat, turned to ashes in an instant.

“I have never felt anything wrong,” he said emotionally, “but my heart was burning when my own house was burnt.” The biggest pain is the loss of a helper sister who has been working at home alive in the fire. “I had never imagined that my sister, who had cooked and fed her family a few moments ago, would be brutally killed in an instant,” Thapa said.

It is not yet clear who started the fire. However, Thapa said, “Whoever sets fire to the house knowing that there are people in the house, those ruthless criminals should not be allowed to escape tomorrow under any political cover

.”

Dhruva Thapa seems unhappy with the attempt by some people to give a political colour to this incident by linking it to his brother Bindu Thapa. “My brother was successful in business and joined politics. Attempts are being made to defame him through fake IDs, but that is just a fabrication,” he said. According to him, the history of the family is linked to social contribution and clean image. “My elder brother has been donating his entire salary and allowances to social causes even when he was a lawmaker and minister,” he added.

Thapa and his wife have been involved in social service for a long time. Whether it was the devastating earthquake of 2015 or the difficult times of COVID-19, they helped the society by providing ambulances free of cost. Expressing gratitude to all who have expressed support and sympathy at this difficult time, Thapa said, “Your encouragement has encouraged us to move ahead stronger. ’