An unidentified person set ablaze a house belonging to Devendra Guragain, the chairman of ward 6 of Pakhribas Municipality in Dhankuta district on Saturday night.

According to Guragain, the arsonist locked the main door from outside and set the ground floor of the house on fire. Guragain and his family members, who were asleep upstairs, are unhurt. Neighbours rescued the Guragain family by using a ladder.

The fire destroyed three rooms on the ground floor. Further investigation is underway into the incident, said police.