Twenty-eight members of a family have been rendered homeless after a fire on Friday night destroyed a two-storey house in Talphigaun settlement of Patarasi Rural Municipality-2, Jumla.

The fire destroyed the eight-room house belonging to Kalsingh Sarki. The Sarki family has been living under open sky after the incident. According to Bal Bahadur Bohara, the ward chairman of Patarasi-2, the fire broke out from a room at around 11pm.

Preliminary police investigation shows that properties worth around Rs5 million were destroyed in the conflagration. The victims said seven tolas of gold, some old coins, food grains, clothes and utensils were destroyed in the incident. “The Sarki family, which has some little children as well, is left in big trouble,” said Bohara. “Relief should be provided immediately to the victims.”

The rural municipality says it will soon provide immediate relief to the fire victims. “Preparation is on to provide the victims with food grains, utensils, blankets and clothes,” said Janamaya Rokaya, vice-chairperson of the rural municipality, after she visited the incident site on Saturday morning. “A joint family of 23 members and another five-member family had been staying in the house. They are in dire need of help.”

Kalsingh lost his two sons last year and took shelter this year. His sons Tarasingh Sarki and Purna Sarki were killed in an avalanche while foraging Yarsagumba in Mugu last year.

“The cause of the fire is not immediately known. Investigation is underway into the matter,” said police.