Patna: Two siblings were charred to death after a fire broke out in their hut while they were asleep in Bhagwanpur Chaksekhu village under the Dalsinghsarai police station area in Samastipur district on Sunday.

The blaze, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short-circuit, also destroyed all household belongings, including clothes and essential items.The victims were identified as Ankit Kumar (3) and Preeti Kumari (5), son and daughter of one Shambhu Manjhi. Both children were staying at their maternal grandparents' home at the time of the incident.Upon receiving information, police from Dalsinghsarai reached the spot and sent the bodies for post-mortem examination."All family members had gone out to work in the village. The children were sleeping alone when the incident occurred. By the time neighbours gathered, both children were already engulfed in flames. The fire brigade was called and the blaze was eventually doused. The children's bodies were recovered thereafter," said Dalsinghsarai inspector Pinki Prasad.Prasad added that fire department officials are investigating the actual cause of the fire. Meanwhile, the district administration has provided immediate financial assistance of Rs 26,000 under the Kabir Antyeshti Yojana and family benefit scheme. Further compensation will be issued following the completion of the investigation, said an official.