Kanpur, May 5 (UNI) Five members of a family, including a couple and their three minor daughters, were killed when a building caught fire in the Chamanganj area of Kanpur city here in Uttar Pradesh, police sources said here on Monday.

Police sources said that the incident took place in Gandhi Nagar, where a five-story building caught fire late on Sunday night. "There was a shoe factory on the lower floors of the building, whereas its owner, along with his wife and three daughters, lived on the upper floors," they said.

Police sources said it is being suspected that the fire which broke out due to a short circuit spread rapidly and engulfed the upper floor. "On getting the information, senior officers along with local police and fire tenders reached the spot and launched a rescue and relief operation. A team of State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) was also called on the spot," they said.

Police sources said that after several hours-long efforts, the firefighters managed to control the fire early on Monday morning. "Five persons trapped inside the building were taken out and sent to the hospital, where doctors declared them dead. The deceased are said to be identified as Danish, his wife Nazneen and three minor daughters. However, the names of the deceased will be declared after identification by the relatives," they said.

A senior officer said that the cause of the fire is being investigated.

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