Five members of a family, including three children, were charred to death when a fire a broke out at Naharbari Ward no.10 under Dimapur district.

The incident is said to have occurred around 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm on Sunday, when the blaze ripped through rows of thatched houses inhabited by people from a non-Naga community.

The five deceased are said to belong from Katihar, Bihar.

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Bursting of firecrackers during Diwali celebrations is suspected to have triggered the blaze, the Fire & Emergency Services official said.

Nearly 50 houses belonging to non-nagas were reduced to ashes. Six fire tenders managed to put out the flames after nearly two hours.

The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur also inspected the site and distributed emergency relief from Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) and further assured the to provide relief funds from the state government.