Three children died in a fire that engulfed a cloth store in Gaur Municipality of Rautahat district on Wednesday night. Three others were injured during the incident.

The fire claimed the lives of two girls aged 5 and 9 and a 7-year-old boy, all children of the store owner Islam Miya of Gaur Municipality, according to District Police Office, Gaur.

The children, who had sustained severe burn injuries, died on the way to the hospital for treatment. The bodies of the victims have been kept at Gaur Hospital.

Islam’s nephews Israel Mansuri, Mohammed Imran and niece Nasima Khatun have sustained injuries while trying to escape the inferno. The injured are undergoing treatment at Gaur Hospital.

Superintendent of Police Bir Bahadur Budhamagar, chief at the District Police Office, Gaur, informed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Sixteen members of the family were sleeping inside the house when the incident occurred.

The fire was brought under control with the help of personnel from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army and locals.

Meanwhile, the fire has also caused damage to an adjoining motorcycle workshop. Around one-and-a-half-dozen motorcycles that were at the garage for maintenance have been damaged by the fire.