Property worth Rs 9.1 million gutted in Khotang fire

KHOTANG: Property worth Rs 9.1 was damaged in a fire at a shop in Chasmitar-5 of Khotang district on Thursday night.

The retail and cloth shop was run by Ishowari Rai of Taragaun, Chasmitar-5 of Khotang district.

According to Chasmitar Police Post, the fire gutted a three-storey building, three tola gold ornaments, seven kg silver, Rs 200,000 cash, and valuables worth Rs 2 million at the shop, clothes worth Rs 200,000, kitchen utensils, school furniture and food stocks.

Though the Rai family was unaware of the fire in the shop, neighbours had awakened them after the incident.

With the help of locals, police were able to douse the fire only at 4 am in the morning today.

DSP Bidyananda Majhi suspected that the fire brokeĀ  as Rai family was sleeping in the kitchen room and the fire had broken from the other room.

According to Ras Kumar Rai, chairperson of the local Srijanatmak Ekata Yuva Club, they were unable to save the property being engulfed from the fire as it happened in the night hours.

The Rai family was rendered homeless after the incident, informed Head Constable Bhakta Tamang.