At least 43 houses were reduced to cinders in a fire that broke out at the Shreepur Maldaiya Tole in Koshi Village Council-5 of Sunsari district on Thursday. 

There were 60 Muslim squatter families living in 43 thatched huts. The fire that broke out from a hut engulfed the settlement within a short time because of high wind condition, police said. 

Five fire engines were called to put out the fire.

Chief District Officer Gopal Prasad Parajuli said he had directed officials to provide help to the affected households. Inaruwa Red Cross and Inaruwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry have started collecting relief materials to distribute in the affected area. 

Meanwhile, the fire victims in Kaplivastu’s Shivaraj Municipality received immediate cash relief of Rs 5,000 each from the local administration. They, however, said 19 families did not get the assistance. CDO Bishnu Prasad Dhakal said the Natural Disaster Relief Committee had just enough budget to offer cash relief to only 40 families. “They won’t be left behind,” he assured.