The outbreak started from the house of Murtuja Miya at Prarstoki of Duhabi-1 at 4 am. It spread to 27 houses and cowsheds, the police said.
Fire engines from Itahari, Dharan and Biratnagar were pressed into service for three hours to douse the fire, according to Police Inspector Netra Barwal of Area Police Office, Duhabi.
Thirty families that have mostly been left roofless by the fire were provided with Rs 1,500 immediate relief per family, according to Chief District Officer Ram Prasad Thapaliya.
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