A massive fire caused extensive damages to Namuna Bazaar in Damak Municiplaity-6 in Jhapa district on Sunday.
Over a dozen fire extinguishers deployed from Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari districts brought the fire under control at 8:00 am, five hours after the market caught the fire.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and chief of the Area Police Office, Damak, Dilip Giri said that five shops of the market area were completely destroyed while a few others were pulled down in course of dousing the fire.
Some owners of the nearby shops had taken out their goods fearing that their shops might also catch fire.
Giri further said that a man was arrested suspecting that he had set the market on fire.
“Based on the footage of CC cameras, we have arrested a man for setting the market on fire. We will investigate him,” Giri said.
The man’s identity was not disclosed.
Tek Bahadur Thapa, chairman of ward number 6, said that fire fighters from the adjoining districts were called to bring the fire under control and prevent further damages.
A team of Chief District Officer of Jhapa Chhabilal Rijal, chief of Jhapa District Police Office Durga Regmi and others inspected the site and instructed the police officers to investigate into the incident.
Power supply, telephone and internet services have been affected by the fire.
A preliminary study estimated that property worth Rs. 15 million was gutted in the fire.
