Fires in different parts of the kingdom are causing havoc, killing people and destroying property, police and home ministry officials said on Monday. The current dry spell plays a key role in the fires. A 70-year-old woman died on Friday when a fire destroyed more than 76 houses in Pakari village in Saptari, police said. 222 homes and property worth Rs 10 million were damaged in Saptari district in the last seven months, police said. Over 200 hectors of forest cover in Raniban, above Balaju, north west of the capital was destroyed due to a fire that started on Friday. Fire fighters were fighting the blaze until Sunday, police said. Thirteen houses at Srikrishna Gandaki village in Syangjha was recently gutted out and property worth Rs 3 million destroyed due to fires there. Fires at Kerabari and Haucha villages in Morang district levelled 20 houses and caused material damage worth Rs 2 million. At least 23 persons have perished in fires nation-wide during the current Nepali calendar year that ends Friday, home ministry officials said. Bureau Report