February 7: Two traditional houses in Jhomo village in Namseling under Chang gewog in Thimphu have been gutted by a fire yesterday morning. The fire also partially damaged another house. The fire started around 11:30 am.

Families living in one of the houses have been able to salvage their paddy harvest. Apart from that, the occupants lost all their belongings in the fire.

It took the fire fighting team comprising of police personnel and local people more than four hours to bring the fire under control. Their efforts were hampered as the houses are accessible only by a tractor track. Because of that only one small fire engine could be used to help bring the fire under control. Fanned by strong winds, the fire spread fast.

Eyewitnesses told BBS that the fire started from a cowshed. The owners of the cowshed however denied that the fire started from there. Police are investigating the cause of the fire.