DUNAI: Property worth Rs 23.2 million was destroyed after a temple and eight houses were engulfed in Mudkechula Rural Municipality-9 of Dolpa district on Wednesday night.

The fire that started yesterday evening gutted various idols worth Rs 10 million housed inside the 500-year-old Masta Temple, informed Yam Bahadur Malla, Sub-Inspector of Police at Dolpa-based District Police Office.

Similarly, the fire also destroyed houses belonging to locals Nanda Kumari Budha, Sundra Budha, Pampha Budha, Pipala Rokaya, Ram Bahadur Budha, Shanti Budha, Daljit Budha and Karna Bahadur Budha.

It has been learnt that the fire also burnt three goats belonging to Karna Bahadur Budha.

Police and locals gained control over fire after 14 hours of effort.