Four houses were reduced to ashes in a fire that broke out at Dandakharka in Mahalaxmi Municipality-4 of Dhankuta district on Wednesday.

The fire that erupted from the house of Gyan Bahadur Magar due to electric short circuit spread to others houses, police said.

Houses belonging to Magar, Kamala Devi Khadka, Ripumardan Rai and Kaluman Rai were destroyed in the blaze.

The fire was doused with the help of locals and security personnel after four hours.

According to a source at the District Police Office, Dhankuta, property worth around Rs 2.5 million was engulfed in the flame.

All the goods which were inside the houses were destroyed in the fire, SP Surendra Gurung said.