Chittagong, Aug 4 (UNB) – Eighteen thatched houses were gutted in a fire, which broke out at Saraipara in the city’s Pahartali thana early Saturday.

Local fire service sources said the fire originated from an electric short circuit at a house of the colony, owned by Imran Hossain, and soon it engulfed other houses at about 1:30am.

Receiving information, two firefighting units rushed in and doused the flame after about two hours of their hectic efforts.

The fire service estimated the losses caused by the fire at about Tk four lakh.