CHIANG MAI -- A 6-year-old girl playing with her father's handgun shot and killed her 7-year-old sister at their home on Tuesday, deputy provincial police chief Pol Col Piyapan Pattarapongsin said.

He said that according to Pol Col Atthapol Meesiang, acting chief of Mae Taeng district police station, the incident occurred at about 6pm on Tuesday at Vichai Sinlee's house in tambon Ban Chang, Daily News online reported.

Mr Vichai left his house to attend a village party, leaving his two daughters, aged 6 and 7, at home.

The younger sister apparenty went into Mr Vichai's room, took her father's .38 Colt pistol from his wardrobe and began playing with it.

She accidentally fired a shot, and the bullet hit her elder sister in the head.

The girl was pronounced dead on arrival at the district hospital.