A heartbreaking incident in Bihar's Gaya district has claimed three lives, highlighting the deadly risks associated with traditional methods of keeping warm during the harsh winter. An elderly woman and her two young grandchildren died from suffocation after smoke from a 'borsi' or fire pot filled their closed room in Ekta village.
The Tragic Night in Ekta Village
The tragedy unfolded late on Tuesday night under the jurisdiction of the Wazirganj police station. The victims have been identified as Meena Devi (60), her five-year-old granddaughter Anshu Kumari, and three-year-old grandson Sujeet Kumar. The family was using the charcoal-based fire pot, a common sight in North Indian winters, to combat the cold inside their home.
Police officials reported that the door and window of the room where the three were sleeping were shut tight, likely to keep the warmth in. This lack of ventilation proved fatal. Through the night, the room gradually filled with toxic smoke emitted by the burning charcoal in the 'borsi'. Unaware of the danger, the trio succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.
A Grim Discovery and Official Response
The devastating scene was discovered on Wednesday morning by the children's mother, Kajal Devi. Upon opening the door, she found her children and mother-in-law unconscious. They were rushed to a government hospital, where the attending doctor declared all three dead on arrival.
Wazirganj SHO Neeraj Kumar confirmed the sequence of events. "Police sent the bodies to the ANMMCH for postmortem," he stated. The local administration has provided immediate financial assistance. "The district administration provided Rs 20,000 to the kin of the deceased under the family welfare scheme," Kumar added.
A Recurring Winter Hazard
This incident has sent shockwaves through the community, not only because of its sheer tragedy but also because it is not an isolated case. Authorities confirmed that this is the second such fatal incident in Wazirganj since December 21, pointing to a persistent and deadly seasonal pattern.
The repeated accidents underscore a critical lack of awareness about the dangers of using open-fire heating sources like 'borsis', 'angithis', or coal braziers in enclosed spaces. Every winter, similar news emerges from across North India, where poor and rural households rely on these inexpensive methods for warmth, often with tragic consequences.
Safety experts consistently warn that these devices consume oxygen and release carbon monoxide—a colorless, odorless gas that can cause sleepiness, unconsciousness, and death without warning. The only preventive measure is ensuring adequate ventilation, a simple step that is frequently overlooked in the bid to stay warm.
