A fire in ward 2 of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality in Khotang destroyed a school and nine homes on Monday.

According to municipal spokesperson Kamal Giri, the blaze started in the Balchikhola Community Forest around 3:30pm and spread to Balkanya Elementary School, burning down its two-room building. The fire also destroyed the homes of Adam Rai, Sammar Bahadur Rai, Pavindra Kumar Rai, Hiradhan Rai, Krishna Bahadur Rai, Chayan Kumar Rai, and Tanka Bahadur Rai, while partially damaging the house of Ran Bahadur Rai.

The fire was controlled at 9:45pm with the efforts of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, municipal police, and residents.

The municipality provided immediate relief of Rs10,000 per affected households on Monday night. The extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.