Raj Kumar Paswan had borrowed Rs40,000 on Wednesday afternoon to cover household expenses. By nightfall, a fire had destroyed his home in Paswan Tole, in ward 10 of Kanchanrup Municipality, burning the borrowed cash along with all the food and clothes stored inside.

The fire left nine families in the settlement homeless. Gajendra Paswan said he also lost Rs25,000 in cash kept at home.

The blaze destroyed 13 houses belonging to the nine families. Food stocks, clothing, cash and everyday household items were also lost, leaving the victims without shelter and necessities. “The fire took away everything we had accumulated through daily wage labour and the means to sustain our daily lives,” Raj Kumar Paswan said. “We became homeless in an instant. We are now worried about where to stay, and with the food we had stored for later consumption burned, even arranging our morning and evening meals has become a challenge.”

According to residents, three houses belonging to Pachu Paswan and three belonging to Manju Paswan were destroyed. One house each belonging to Dinesh Paswan (Bhagalu), Raj Kumar Paswan (Garamdal), Gajendra Paswan, Pawan Paswan, Khikhari Paswan, Lallu Paswan and Mahendra Paswan was also burned down.

The fire was brought under control with the help of local residents, security personnel and fire engines from Rajbiraj, Hanumannagar Kankalini, Rupani and Kanchanrup municipalities.

The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Superintendent of Police Rupak Khadka said authorities were collecting details of the losses.