At least 40 houses were destroyed when a massive fire broke out in a squatter settlement in front of the fruits market at Balkhu in Kathmandu on Saturday night.

The inferno started from the house of Man Bahadur BK at around 11pm. According to police, the fire started from an oil lamp and soon spread to other houses.

It has been learnt that the fire caught some 15 cooking gas cylinders causing huge explosions.

The belongings of 40 houses were reduced to ashes while three people have been reported injured. It is also learnt that a church in the area has suffered damages in the fire.

Five fire brigades of Nepal Army doused the the fire at around 2 am in the wee hours of Sunday morning. 

Photos: Elite Joshi