NEW DELHI - At least 40 houses were destroyed in a fire in New Delhi Friday, local Fire Service said.

The fire began in one of the huts at Shastri Park area and the blaze soon spread and engulfed many other adjoining houses, an official said. Fourteen fire fighters battled the blaze for an hour.

No casualty is reported till now.

The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received 293 calls -- the highest in the past five years -- on Diwali, India's New Year, on Thursday, the official said.