MALANGAWA: Thirteen houses have been destroyed in a fire that broke out in a Dalit settlement of Harkatha in Dhankaul Rural Municipality-5 of Sarlahi district on Saturday evening. The fire has caused a loss of around Rs 2.6 million.

According to the District Police Office, 35-year-old Arabinda Prasad Kushwaha was injured when a gas cylinder kept inside the house burst into flames. Sarlahi Police Spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhav Prasad Budhathoki said that the thatched-roof was completely gutted leaving 13 Dalit families stranded, with all their belongings including food and clothes burnt inside the house.

The fire destroyed the houses of locals Pradip Hazari, Rambali Pasman, Tahir Hazari, Sheetal Hazari, Jeevan Hazari, Bhikhari Pasman, Ram Vishwas Hazari, Bikau Pasman, Nannad Kishor Pasman, Gagan Hazari, Sarpalal Hazari, Ramnath Hazari and Bhumeshwar Sah Kanu. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained.

The fire was put out with the help of fire engines of Malangwa, Hariwan Municipality and security personnel and locals, police said.