Patna:
At least 650 houses were gutted in separate incidents of fire in Samastipur, Begusarai and West Champaran districts of Bihar, official sources said.
The fire broke out in a heap of dried leaves and wild grass in Pataili and Shankarpur villages under Ujiarpur police station area in Samastipur and spread to adjoining habitats gutting about 250 thatched houses, the District Magistrate Navinchandra Jha said, adding fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames.
About two dozen villager received minor burn injuries while trying to contain the fire, he said, adding that the injured persons were admitted to a hospital for treatment.
The damage to crops and other household goods was being assessed for payment of compensation, Mr Jha said.
In similar blaze in Begusarai district, over 100 houses were gutted in fire in villages under Khodabandpur,
Bhagwanpur and Mufassil police station areas, while another 350 houses were razed down in West Champaran, the sources said.
The protected Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) area bore the brunt of fire as about 25-acre wild forest area was gutted in a blaze in Madanpur range, they said, adding efforts were on to douse the flames