Shillong, Feb 1: Four men from the Mising community in Assam died in Bangalore recently from what is suspected to have been carbon monoxide poisoning, the North-East United Forum (NEUF) has informed.
The four, from Lakhimpur district, were found dead in a rented room at Hoskote, eastern Bangalore, under mysterious circumstances. The deceased were employed at a Coca-Cola warehouse for the past three months. They were identified as: Dhananjoy Taid (22), Nirendra Nath Taid (23), Doctor Taid (19) and Jayanta Chintey (23). The bodies of the four victims were returned to Assam on Sunday.
Preliminary post-mortem findings indicated the presence of high levels of carbon monoxide in all four bodies. It is suspected that the deaths may have occurred due to carbon monoxide inhalation in a closed room with insufficient ventilation.
It was observed that a vessel of rice was left cooking on a gas stove, which may have burned for an extended period, generating smoke and carbon monoxide inside the closed room. It is suspected that the occupants may have fallen asleep without switching off the stove, leading to fatal suffocation. When discovered, two of the deceased were seated while two were lying on the floor, the NEUF said in a release today.
The bodies were discovered around 10:30pm by a fifth roommate who returned from duty. Just half an hour before, one of the victims had had a phone call with his wife and had appeared normal.
The NEUF said that it is in constant coordination with the local police and investigating authorities and will share verified updates as more information becomes officially available.
