Shimla, March 11 (IANS) Three children whose bodies were found near an army firing range in Himachal Pradesh died when three mortar shells they picked up exploded, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Thursday.

Dhumal told the state assembly that the boys, aged 12 and 13 years, went to a forest near the firing range in Kangra district where they collected unexploded shells.

'While attempting to extract metal, the shells exploded. The children died due to the explosion,' he added.

Dhumal said the army had confirmed this to the state government. 'Investigations are on to know the origin of the shells and to which unit they belonged,' he said.

He said the Indian Army and the Border Security Force used the firing range. The victims - Shail, Rahul and Chandan - belonged to Kohala village.