Jempol police chief Muhd Nur Hishamuddin Hashim said the victims were S Elangovan, 38, P Kaliammah, 36, and their son, E Vinesh, three.

“Another child, aged nine, was injured on the leg in the incident at 4pm.

“We received a report on the incident at 11.50 last night and upon arriving at the location, police found the three bodies,” he said here today.

He said a family member had earlier asked neighbours for help to find the victims as they did not return after going to the goat farm that evening.

“Neighbours who went to the farm initially heard the cries of the injured child before finding the other three victims.

“It was raining heavily, with lightning, at that time.”

He said on inspection of the goat shed, police also found seven goats and two dogs dead with burn signs on their fur.

Hishamuddin said a post-mortem found they died of electric shock.