A fire broke out and destroyed seven shops at BP Chowk in Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City on Friday morning.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Narayan Dangi of the District Police Office, Banke, the fire started at around 4:30am and caused significant damage to five furniture shops, a garage, and a restaurant.

It took four fire engines two hours to bring the fire under control.

It has been revealed that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit, and most of the merchandise in the shops were either destroyed or damaged, said Dangi.