New Delhi: Five children, including three girls, were killed in a fire that broke out at a temple in New Delhi on August 31 when 'Janmashtami puja' was on, police said.

The children were trapped in the fire, which broke out in Shakti temple at Vishnu Garden in Tilak Nagar area of West Delhi on August 31 evening around 20:00 hours (IST), West district deputy commissioner of police Dipender Pathak said.

The children died because of suffocation caused by the smoke and burn injuries, he said. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they were declared dead.

The fire is believed to have been caused by the short circuit, Pathak said.

Fire brigade and police personnel brought the fire under control within half-an-hour with the help of four fire tenders.

Two victims were identified as Richa and Manisha, they said.

PTI