HILINHANG, PANCHTHAR: At least six houses have been gutted after a forest fire entered the human settlement in Hilihang Rural Municipality-3 of Panchthar district on Sunday. The fire in the human settlement has been put out while it continues to rage in the forest.

The houses of Man Prasad Palungwa, Harka Bahadur Palungwa, Raj Kumar Palungwa, Bedmaya Poudyal, Damber Bahadur Palungwa and Dhan Prasad Palungwa were gutted in the fire, according to ward member Dhan Bahadur Palungwa.

Four of the houses were burnt to ashes, including all the property inside the houses. The exact extent of the damage has yet to be known.

Meanwhile, security personnel and locals are working to control the fire in the forest but with no avail. The fire is now raging towards the Banpala forest in the east, added Palungwa.