INARUWA: A devastating fire engulfed the heart of Inaruwa-1, Sunsari, as a result of firecrackers being set off.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Navin Krishna Bhandari, said that the fire originated in a grocery shop owned by Bridichan Jain in Inaruwa-1.

The incident occurred on the day of Laxmi Puja last night when a cracker, lit for entertainment, fell near a tree behind Jain’s residence, triggering the uncontrollable blaze.

The inferno consumed a wooden house and the grocery store it housed, resulting in a staggering loss exceeding five million rupees.

Swift action from local residents, alongside the coordinated efforts of Nepal Police, Armed Police, and Inaruwa City Police, managed to bring the fire under control.