Cooch Behar, March 4: More than 10 huts were gutted in a fire that started when lightning struck Jarabari village in Dinhata police station area around midnight yesterday.

Around 30 hens, three cows and five goats were also killed in the blaze, before the fire brigade from Dinhata, 25km away, arrived at Jarabari around 12.45am.

The huts, made of bamboo with straw or tin sheets on the roof, belonged to three families.

“I am ruined. I have lost all four of my rooms, four quintals of paddy, three goats and a cow in the blaze. I had saved up nearly Rs 1,000 in a wooden box. The notes have been burnt to ashes. I am left with nothing,” said Amena Bewa today.

Amena, whose daughter is married and son lives in Delhi with his family, was alone at home when the fire started.

According to her, the lightning struck one of the huts around midnight, following heavy rain and storm. The fire spread quickly because of the wind raging through the area.

The families of Mujibar Mian and Mohir Mian suffered similar losses.

The upa-pradhan of the Putimari gram panchayat, Abul Hossain, said each family was being allotted 50kg of rice and Rs 500 in cash as compensation. He alleged that the families were yet to receive any relief from the administration.

The block development officer of Dinhata I, Rajat Kanti Biswas, said dry food and polythene sheets were being arranged for the affected people.