RANIPET: A husband and wife from Rajasthan died after a fire broke out at an ice cream manufacturing unit in Arcot in Ranipet district on Sunday morning.

The victims, Perolak Jat, 50, and his wife Sundar Jat, 45, were trapped inside the rented shop in Devi Nagar when the fire broke out around 8 am, according to sources.

Fire and rescue services personnel rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze. The couple were rescued and taken to the Arcot Government Hospital in an 108 ambulance, where doctors stated that they had already died.

The couple, natives of Rajasthan, had been running the ice cream unit along with their son Sonu (23). They had reached the shop around 4 am for work when the incident occurred.

DMK candidate JL Easwarappan and AIADMK candidate SM Sukumar, who were campaigning nearby, also reached the spot and assisted in the rescue efforts.

Arcot Town police have registered a case, and an investigation is under way.