Gangtok, February 13 Four houses were completely destroyed in a fire that broke out in Upper Ribdi, Soreng district, in West Sikkim on Friday afternoon, officials said.
According to police, the homeowners and their family members were not present at the time of the incident.
The fire spread rapidly, causing extensive damage before it could be brought under control.
Personnel from the Sashastra Seema Bal, the Sikkim Police, and officials from the BDO office of the Daramdin constituency rushed to the scene after receiving information.
Local residents also joined efforts to extinguish the flames.
The situation worsened after an LPG cylinder exploded, intensifying the fire and hindering firefighting operations.
During rescue efforts, one police officer was injured.
Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.