The ancient Pungche Hinang monastery in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-2 in Gorkha district has been destroyed by fire."

The fire that broke out around 4pm Tuesday could be extinguished only after six hours, at 10pm.

According to SP Kedar Acharya of the district police, the locals believe that the monastery was around 200 years old, and all the books and idols that were inside were either damaged or destroyed.

“A preliminary investigation has revealed that the fire started due to an electrical short circuit,” said Acharya.