Fourteen families that lost their homes in last week's blaze at Ruhea Madhupur Gudampara village of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila now have no shelter to take refuge amid the chilly nights.

These families of labourers are living under the open sky, erecting sheets of polythene, as they are yet to rebuild their thatched houses due to financial constraints. Although the upazila administration provided them support, that was inadequate.

Local UP Chairman Mominul Haque told The Daily Star that about twenty houses belonging to the 14 families were gutted in a devastating fire on November 14, which originated from a home's earthen oven. The fire soon engulfed the adjacent houses of the village.

After being informed, the upazila administration gave each family Tk 5,000 cash and corrugated iron sheets.

As they all depend on daily wages, it is tough to rebuild the houses even with the assistance, the chairman said.

Shudhu Ram Barman (50), one of the victims, said, "I've lost my two thatched homes in the fire. I'm yet to rebuild them because I don't have the means to. The assistance that we got is not enough."

Ratan Barman said his wife gave birth in the ill-fated morning of that day.

Now, they are living in misery -- with the infant under the open sky.

The condition of other victims are similar, said the villagers.

Contacted, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Thakurgaon Sadar Abu Taher Mohammad Samsuzzaman told this newspaper that they have written for more assistance to the disaster management directorate. After getting allocation, it will be provided to the victims.