Fire that broke out at Phalelung rural municipality-6 in Panchthar district from Wednesday night has come under control in the midnight. Property worth around Rs 19 million was gutted in the inferno that destroyed three houses and six shops.

The fire started from 10:40 pm from the house of Jit Bahadur Limbu of Barbhanjyang due to electricity leakage. A two-storey house of Limbu, a dairy, grocery shop, Rs 700 thousand, the ward office of the Nepali Congress Phalelung-6, a house belonging to neighbours Ramjit Rai and Man Bahadur Rai, a grocery shop of Dharma Kerung and a tailoring shop were destroyed in the fire, according to the District Police Office.

Similarly, the fire destroyed the two-storied house of Man Bahadur Rai, the IME money transfer branch office and a footwear shop operated by local Mehendra Rai at the same house and cash as well as jewelries. Goods and property worth Rs 9.3 million was destroyed as the fire gutted the grocery shop and computer centre operated by a local Dhana Prasad Rai, a fancy store and a cardamom store operated by Surendra Rai and a tailoring shop operated by Ranjana Rai at the same house, the District Police Office Panchthar said.

Besides the Nepal Police personnel from Sidin, Pangbrung and Nangin police posts, a team of 25 personnel from the District Police Office and a 14-member squad from the Armed Police Force (APF) No 2 Headquarters Himsikhar Company, Phidim were mobilized to contain the fire.

The security force personnel with the help of the locals and two fire engines from Phidim brought the inferno under control at 1 am today, District Police Office Panchthar’s Deputy Superintendent Rakesh Thapa said. Those who lost their house and property in the fire are now sheltering at their neighbours’ houses.