Four members of a family, including three children, were killed when a cooking gas cylinder exploded in Bhaluani area of Deoria district here in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, an administration official said here.

Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Barhaj Disha Srivastava said that the incident took place in Dumari village, where Arti Devi (35) switched on the gas to make tea. 

"During this, the regulator caught fire, and the cylinder exploded," she said.

She said after the explosion, the house caught fire. "Arti Devi, her daughters Aanchal (14), 11-month-old Srishti, and son Kundan (12) were killed in the incident.

The SDM said that the wall and tinshed of the house were damaged in the incident.

"The children were sleeping in a room at the time of the incident," she said.

(With UNI Inputs)