KHOTANG, Jan 4: A massive fire in Halesi Bazar in Khotang district gutted four houses and partially destroyed three more on Tuesday evening.
The fire had started from the house of local businessman Magam Rai of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality-7 and engulfed the adjoining houses of Uchit Bahadur Rai, Tambaraj Rai and Ambaraj Rai. According to police, the houses of Prakash Chandra Giri, Regindra Rai and Gopin Rai were partially damaged. The fire also gutted a nearby tent. The fire which started at around 7 pm was doused after three hours. The cause of the fire is still not known. In order to stop the fire from spreading, one of the houses of the settlement was demolished, informed Iwan Rai, the mayor of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality.
Seven houses gutted in Khotang fire
At first, officers of the Area Police Office, Halesi and locals fought the fire and later they were joined by Nepal Army and Armed Police Force personnel. Shortage of water in the area made the fire-fighting work challenging.
According to preliminary investigation by police, gas leak in the kitchen has been suspected to be the reason for the fire.
Security personnel and locals doused the fire on their own as the fire engine took a long time to reach Halesi from the fire station at Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality due to long distance.
