At least four houses and a grocery shop were reduced to ashes when a fire broke out at the bazaar area of Paruhang Chok in Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, Sunsari district on Saturday.

Police said that property worth around Rs 10 million was engulfed in the fire that took place at around 12 am today. The incident occurred due to electric short circuit.

The fire spread after a total of 11 cooking gas cylinders kept in the grocery shop exploded sequentially.

Police said that houses belonging to Padam Adhikari, Bal Kumar Rai, Bideshi Kumar Shrestha and Man Kumari Rai were destroyed in the fire.

Locals had to call a fire engine of Inaruwa Municipality to douse the fire after a fire engine of Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City did not come on time.