BIRGUNJ: As many as 36 houses were gutted in a fire that broke out in ageshwari Titraina VDC-1 in Parsa district today afternoon.

Properties worth Rs 10.373 million were reduced to cinders in the incident, according to police.

But no human casualty has been reported.

With the help of fire engine, security personnel and locals contained the fire in three hours, according to police.

Police suspected that the burning ash discarded after preparing lunch in one of the houses sparked fire to cause the inferno in the village, where locals use cow dung patties to cook their meals.