Houses, shops gutted

At least nine houses and four shops were gutted in separate fire incidents in the district yesterday. Fire brigade sources said a fire that originated from the kitchen of Ambia Begum at Dhalat village in Sadar upazila burnt down three adjacent houses at noon. In Lalpur upazila, five houses were damaged in a fire at Walia East Shahapara village. Locals said the fire originated from the kitchen of Shaker Ali of the village at about 12:30pm and soon engulfed four other adjoining houses. Besides, four shops were gutted as a fire broke out at Walia Bazar in Lalpur upazila early yesterday.