The fire that broke out in the Central Plaza on the main square of Itahari has not been brought under control even after five hours. 11 people trapped in the 10-storey building where the fire broke out have been rescued.

Minister of Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province Revathiraman Bhandari informed that 11 people including 8 men and 3 women who were trapped on different floors of the plaza were safely rescued.

Three people were rescued by a Nepali army helicopter from Kathmandu. The fire broke out on the fifth and sixth floors of the plaza from 9:30 am. More than a dozen fire brigades, Nepalese army and police teams from different local levels of Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari have been deployed to control the fire.

There are hotels, cinema halls, banks, supermarkets, clothing stores, mobile and electronics stores operating in the building where the fire broke out. The cause of the fire is yet to be revealed, according to the Itahari area police office.