RAJBIRAJ: As many as six families were left in the lurch after 14 mud houses in Bharuwa Deuri VDC-6 of Saptari district turned into ashes, on Wednesday morning.

The fire that sparked from the kitchen of Sophi Mandal destroyed 14 other neighbouring houses and sheds.

Property worth Rs 2.5 million including furniture, groceries, clothes has been destroyed in the incident, said Saptari District Police Office.

Nepal Police and Nepal Army personnel took help from locals and a fire engine to douse the fire.

Similarly, property worth Rs 2 million was gutted after a house belonging to Abdul Samal Ansari Miya caught the fire, destroying a neighbouring house and valuables of Gufran Ansari , said DSP Dan Bahadur Karki.

Valuables including 1.5 kg silver, two tola gold, three bicycles, and Rs 100,000 cash were destroyed.