BANIYANI: A furniture factory was gutted by fire at Mangalchok, Bhadrapur-8 of Jhapa district on Sunday morning. Property worth Rs 12.5 million was gutted in the fire.

The factory, owned by Devendra Basnet, caught the fire at around 2:45 am when the gas cylinder exploded after a short circuit, said Sub-Inspector Netra Bahadur Karki of the Ward Police Office, Bhadrapur.

The fire destroyed the instruments, furniture, household equipment and clothes housed in the factory.

According to police, fire engines from the Birtamod Municipality and the Bhadrapur Municipality were deployed to contain the fire. The fire was doused after the efforts of personnel from Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and local residents for more than four hours.

The factory owner Basnet was away from home when the incident occurred.