Nine die in fire in 8 months

others injured in fire since January till October in Mizoram, Fire and Emergency Serviced Department records said.

A total of 152 houses and a huge forest land were also damaged in 107 incidents of forest fire in the state during this time, the records said.

Properties worth Rs 17.12 crore were destroyed by the fire during this time.

Officials said February was the worst month when 76 houses were gutted with estimated loss of properties worth Rs 9.21 crore and the major cause of fire was determined as electric short circuit.

Meanwhile fire claimed two people, gutted 34 houses and there were 80 incidents of forest fire during last year, Fire and Emergency Services officials said, adding that properties destroyed by the fire during 2011 was estimated at Rs 2.30 crore.

There were at least one incident of house being destroyed by fire every month in 2011 and also in 2012 except July this year.