SWABI, Feb 2: Three minor sons of an Afghan refugee were burnt when their rented house caught fire.

According to the father of the injured children, Shakir Khan, they were in their room, which was built with wood and mud, when it suddenly caught fire, said some officials of the health department and doctors working for the Topi civil hospital. The children might be playing with match sticks.

Their mother was busy in domestic chores while the father was not at home. “When the fire engulfed the children, they started crying which forced their mother to rush through the leaping flames,” said a neighbour.

“She brought one of the children out while crying out for help.” The other two children were rescued by the neighbours who took the injured children to hospital. The hair of the mother and her right hand was badly burnt in the incident.

The children are Hamza, 6, Zahidullah, 4, and Khalid, 2. One of the children is in serious condition. The child has been referred to a hospital in Peshawar.