NONGSTOIN: Three houses and a shop were gutted in an early-morning fire at Rngi Lower Iew Rambrai in West Khasi Hills on Wednesday.
The houses belonged to Jrip Wahlang, Maianlang Nongphud and Jwistina Marbaniang while the furniture shop was owned by Blostar Lyngkhoi.
Sources said the fire started from the house of Maian Nongphud around 4:30am and later spread to the other three structures. Fortunately, some students who were occupying one of the houses, escaped unhurt. Fire tenders later rushed to the site and took about two hours to douse the flames, but not before the structures were reduced to ashes.
The cause of the fire however is still not clear but it is suspected that a student had forgotten to put off a burning candle.
The district administration has provided relief to the victims after the block development officer of Nongstoin had sent a Gramsevak to assess the cost of damage.
