SURKHET: Nine houses have been burnt down in a fire at Sisneri village in Barahatal Rural Municipality-9 in Western Surkhet.

In the blaze that took place on Thursday, eight houses were destroyed completely and one partially, said local people. A fire at a local community forest swept into the settlement and destroyed the houses, said the police.

The police with the help of local people doused the blaze. Food items have been distributed to the fire victims in an immediate relief, said the ward chair Yuba Raj Karki.