GHAIGHAT: A woman died and property worth around Rs 60 million were destroyed in a fire that gutted 13 houses at Nepaltar Bazaar in Udayapurgadhi Rural Municipality-6 of Udayapur district on Saturday night.

The decased has been identified as 70-year-old local Batimaya Tamang, mother of Narayan Tamang.

According to police, the fire that started at 11:00 pm yesterday from the house belonging to local businessman Narayan Tamang raged on and spread to 12 other houses in the bazaar area, informed Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) Nawaraj Bhatta, Chief of District Police Office, Udayapur.

The houses belonging to Narayan Tamang, Tanka Prasad Shrestha, Bharat Karki, Bir Bahadur Tamang, Til Kumari Dahal, Nirmala BK, Nawaraj Karki, Tika Man Tamang and Ramesh Khatiwada, among others were burnt to cinders in the fire along with the food stocks, clothing and other property housed inside the buildings, informed SP Bhatta.

Police with the help of locals and fire engines from Triyuga Municipality, Katari Municipality and Chaudandigadi Municipality brought the fire under control at 3:00 am today.

According to police, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained as the fire started when the family members were sleeping.

Meanwhile, further investigation into the case is underway, said police.