100 houses gutted

A devastating fire gutted at least 100 dwelling houses at Saotalpara village at Nilphamari Sadar Upazila on Monday evening. However, no casualty is reported in the fire which broke out in a house around 7:00pm. Station Manager of Nilphamari Fire Service Emdadul Haque said the fire originated from a stove at the kitchen of the house of Hutum Ali around at 7pm and it soon effulged the adjacent houses of 60 families and some business establishments, including shops. Being informed, a firefighting unit rushed in and doused the blaze after 1-and-half-hours’ hectic efforts with the help of police and local people. The extent of losses caused by the fire were estimated at Tk 20 million, Emdadul Haque added, according to a news agency.