India, Dec. 7 -- NEW DELHI

A 31-year-old man and his wife reportedly suffocated to death at their grocery store in Mundka on Friday evening, police said. An initial probe revealed that a short circuit outside the shop counter led to the blaze, and that the couple pulled down the shop shutters in panic, trapping themselves inside and falling unconscious.

Deputy commissioner of police (outer) Sachin Sharma identified the victims as Vineet, 31, and his wife Renu, 29.

"By the time they were pulled out and taken to a nearby hospital, doctors declared them dead," Sharma said.

The Mundka police station received a call about the fire at around 9pm from the Lekhram Park near Tikri Kalan. When a police team reached the spot, a small grocery sto...