Palpa, June 1 -- Authorities have begun an investigation after a fungus-like object resembling yarsagumba was discovered in Rimigha Hill of Rumba Rural Municipality-3 in Palpa district.

According to Chairperson Bishnu Prasad Bhandari, the suspected specimens were found during a plantation drive while clearing shrubs in the Rimigha Pospakha Community Forest.

"As workers were digging pits to plant orange saplings, they noticed a few organisms that looked like yarsagumba," he said. The rural municipality has since restricted locals from collecting the specimens or entering the forest.

Division Forest Office Chief Narayan Dev Bhattarai said the specimens would be collected and sent to the National Forensic Science Laboratory in Khumaltar, ...