POKHARA: Four members of a family died when a fire engulfed a house in Pragati Tole of Pokhara on Wednesday.

The deceased have been identified as Sita Rana (36), her daughter Simanta (11), mother Ganga Kumari Phal (55) and cousin Basanti Magar (28), informed Police Inspector Bed Prakash Joshi.

Police said the fire was induced following a short circuit in the flat. Adding that the deceased were asphyxiated from the smoke that filled the room.

Sita's husband, Man Bahadur, is currently in Israel for foreign employment.

The tenants on the ground floor had informed the police after noticing the smoke from the room above at 6:00 am.

Police has also informed that the bodies are being kept at the Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara, for autopsy.