Six dead in Kathmandu market fire

KATHMANDU: Six people were killed as a fire tore through the main vegetable market in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu on Saturday night destroying more than 100 stalls, police said.

Firefighters and residents battled for seven hours to contain the blaze, which was caused by an electrical fault, deputy superintendent of Kathmandu Police Dhiraj Pratap Singh told AFP.

"Six people, including a guard and a woman, are dead from the massive fire in Kalimati. Now the situation is under control," he said.

The 400-stall market is the main wholesale supplier for fruit and vegetables to traders in the city.