At least 48 families in ward no 7 and 8 of Dhangadi municipality in far western Nepal have left their residences on Sunday in fear of fresh Maoist attacks, a report said.

Annapurna Post reported that the Maoists threatened the villagers to leave the area saying that they had been preparing for further attack in security installments in the area.

Thirty families had left the village on Saturday. Students who have been living in rent have also left the area, the report added.

Reports say that over 60 percent of houses in these two wards are locked. However, it is not clear where these families have shifted to.

People who migrated to India had gradually returned to this and neighbouring Maoist affected areas during the four month unilateral ceasefire by the Maoists a few months back. Insurgency and growing violence in western Nepal have badly affected village life over the past decade. The rebels have intensified their actions ahead of municipal polls.