Property worth billions of rupees was gutted by the fire that broke out around 5 pm due to a short circuit, according to Area Police Office, Itahari.
Security forces from Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have been trying to prevent the inferno from catching the neighboring houses. The fire brigade from Itahari, Dharan, Biratnagar and Inaruwa were trying to douse the fire till late evening.
As of 10 pm, although the outer parts of the buildings on fire were brought under control, the inside parts were yet to come under control completely.
"Now the fire will not go out of control. The fire is not so massive now," said Police Inspector Rajan Karki, who was deployed to douse the fire.
"The fire will be brought under control completely by late night," Inspector Karki added.
No one was injured in the incident.
The goods stored in shops near the commercial buildings caught by fire have been shifted elsewhere.
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