A 65-year old woman was charred to death and property worth laks of rupees were reduced to ashes when at least 50 houses were gutted after a spark from a kitchen became a blaze at Amdanda village in Bhagalpur district.
Firemen rushed to the spot and doused the flames.
In another incident at Karahiya village of Madhubani district, scores of cattle died and at least 100 houses, mostly thatched ones, were gutted.
Local people doused the flames as fire engines could not arrive in time, the police said.