At least 40 shops were destroyed in a fire that broke out at Bamka market in Bajura on Friday afternoon.

According to Ram Bahadur Baniya, mayor of Budhiganga Municipality, the fire started after a gas cylinder exploded at Navadurga Hotel.

The incident occurred in the marketplace along the Sanfe-Martadi road section in ward 6 of the municipality. Locals said the absence of a fire engine made it difficult to contain the blaze in time.