A tragic incident of suspected suffocation has claimed the life of a Nepalese national and left six of his compatriots hospitalised in Dharwad. The unfortunate event occurred at their shared residence in Nandini Layout on Friday night, casting a pall over the local community.
Details of the Dharwad Tragedy
The victims, all seven of them, were Nepalese men employed at a local eatery. They lived together in the same accommodation. According to preliminary information from the police, the group cooked their dinner on a coal-fired stove inside their living quarters. After the meal, they retired to sleep in a room where both the door and windows were shut.
The alarm was raised on Saturday when none of the seven men reported for work at the eatery. Concerned by their unexplained absence, the owner of the establishment went to their residence to check on them. He was met with a harrowing scene, finding all the occupants unresponsive. He immediately alerted the police and emergency services.
Police Investigation Points to Suffocation
Police Commissioner N Shashikumar personally inspected the spot. He indicated that suffocation caused by smoke from the coal fire is the primary suspected cause of the incident. "We noticed that no window or door was open and there is no clue of food poisoning," Commissioner Shashikumar stated. He further added that authorities are awaiting the postmortem report to determine the exact cause of death conclusively.
The deceased has been identified as Bibek, aged 40. His six roommates, who survived, were rushed to the district hospital for urgent medical care. Their names are:
- Nitesh, 45
- Naresh, 45
- Dikeshi, 40
- Sudhan, 30
- Kumar, 50
- Laxman, 30
The condition of two of the admitted men was reported to be critical, necessitating their treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Community Impact and Safety Concerns
This heartbreaking accident in Dharwad has highlighted the precarious living conditions often faced by migrant workers. The incident underscores a critical need for awareness about the dangers of using open combustion sources like coal stoves in poorly ventilated spaces. The local community and authorities are now reflecting on ways to prevent such preventable tragedies in the future, emphasising the importance of basic safety measures for all residents.
