At least 20 houses were gutted in Battala road area of the city yesterday. Official sources said the fire originated from an earthen kitchen stove of a house of Bashir Mia. Later, it spread to adjacent 19 houses and two gas cylinders also exploded by the heat of the fire.

Seven units of the Barisal fire service rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control after one hour. Md Faruk Hosen, assistant director of Barisal Fire Service and Civil Defence, said they preliminary estimated the cost of the damaged properties worth several lakhs of taka.  Total 20 families have lost their all in fire, he added. City mayor and other public representatives and officials of district administration visited the spot and assured to giving support to the victims of the incident.