Phidim, July 28:

Six houses and 10 shops housed in them were gutted at Gairibazaar in Panchthar’s Amarpur village development committee-6 last night. Property worth Rs 15 million was reportedly damaged in the fire.

According to the Panchthar District Police Office, the fire started from the shop of Rajendra Sitaula at 12:00 midnight and later spread to other houses.

The houses of Tulasi Poudel, Samar Adhikari, Ram Karki, Khagendra Pomu and Raj Kumar Basnet along with the shops housed in them were destroyed in the incident, said police inspector Anil Poudel.

The preliminary report of the joint evaluation team comprising locals, fire victims and police has estimated the damage of Rs 1,38,70,147, Poudel said.

The fire was extinguished at 02:30 am with the joint efforts of the locals and police.

The Nepal Red Cross Society Amarpur sub branch provided the fire victims with food

grains and clothing to meet their urgent needs.