A passionate attempt by a man from northern Kupwara district to treat his ailing mother in a Srinagar hospital ended with the tragic death of the entire family on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, the family of Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh, which also included two minors, his wife and the ailing mother, were found unconscious at their rented accommodation in Bemina area of Srinagar. After being taken to a hospital, they were pronounced as ‘brought dead’ by the doctors there.
The family, originally hailing from Batpora-Tangdhar village in Kupwara district, had hired a room on rent at Mansoor Colony, adjacent to boatman colony in Bemina, local residents told Greater Kashmir.
“His (Sheikh’s) mother’s surgery was conducted four days back at JVC hospital. He took a room on rent in our area some five days back so that it would become easy for him to take his mother frequently to the hospital, which is in the vicinity,” said president of local mohalla committee, Manzoor Ahmed.
On Saturday morning, however, Manzoor said: “A relative of Sheikh, who was also in JVC hospital, came to us. He had received a call from Tangdhar to inquire about the family’s well-being since none of the family members had picked up a phone call. We went to the house and knocked the door, but there was no response.”
He said: “A strong smell of cooking gas was emanating from the room. It was really hard to stand there. We sensed something wrong and called the police.”
Manzoor said a police officer told them over phone to immediately go inside and see what was wrong.
“Inside, we found all the five members unconscious, while a cooking pan which had turned iron red was lying on the gas stove. There was a strong smell of gas in the room,” he said.
The police said they received a call about the incident at around 9.45 am.
Sub-divisional police officer (west) MusadiqBasu told Greater Kashmir that it seemed to be “a case of death due to suffocation, apparently.”
“It seems there was a leakage in the cooking gas cylinder due to which the family got unconscious. We have started investigation into the case,” he said.
The deceased were identified by the police as Sheikh (45), his ailing mother Reshma (in 60s), his wife Gulshan (40), his children Faizan (5) and Furqan (8).
Medical superintendent of JVC hospital, DrShafa Deva, where the deceased were taken, told Greater Kashmir that they were brought dead to the health facility.
“As of now we can’t say anything. Details will emerge once the post-mortem is conducted,” she said.
At the time of filing of this report, all the five bodies—after the medico-legal formalities were conducted—were in the mortuary of police control room Srinagar.
“We have done the post-mortem on the bodies, which have also been embalmed. Hopefully, if weather permits, the bodies will be airlifted to their native place on Sunday,” deputy commissioner Srinagar, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah told Greater Kashmir.
He also announced ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of the deceased family.
Meanwhile, experts advised people to maintain proper ventilation in their homes during winters.
“In winter, we have seen cases of suffocation or asphyxia due to coal burning inside rooms or gas heaters which result into increase in concentration of deadly carbon monoxide and decrease in the oxygen concentration. It can also happen due to prolonged use of LPG gas stoves inside living rooms. Due to inadequate ventilation, the burnt gas particles cause intoxication in human body which leads to unconsciousness and decreased oxygen quantity. At times it can prove fatal,” said chest diseases specialist, DrNaveedNazir Shah.
“In case of suffocation or asphyxia”, Dr Shah said “people should immediately open doors and windows of the room”.
“If there is availability of oxygen, it should be immediately administered to the affected person. Also, quick attempt should be made to take the affected person immediately to a nearby hospital”, he said.
CONDOLENCES
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah expressed deep anguish and shock over the death of five residents of Tangdhar, including two children aged 8 and 5, due to asphyxiation at their rented accommodation in Bemina.
“It is deeply distressing to know about the incident. May Almighty give the bereaved much-needed strength to bear the loss and grant peace to the departed souls,” Farooq said in a statement, and impressed upon the divisional administration Kashmir to airlift the bodies to their native place for the last rites.
Omar, while expressing heartfelt condolences to the bereaved, said: “To forestall such incidents from happening in future, the administration must hold awareness campaigns by employing different modes of mass media including social media”.
“I urge the administration to grant adequate ex-gratia relief to the bereaved family. Meanwhile, I appeal to the people to use appliances and other gadgets watchfully to ensure there is no harm to their life and property,” he said.
Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti took to twitter and wrote: “Very sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident where five members of a family, all residents of Tangdhar, died of suffocation. My deep condolences to the family. Hope the administration takes all the necessary steps to ensure that the bodies are taken to Tangdhar at the earliest”.
NC’s party’s provincial president Nasir AslamWani said he has spoken to authorities concerned and requested them to airlift the bodies from Srinagar to Tangdhar.
He expressed heartfelt condolences on the tragic incident and prayed for peace to departed souls.
PDP leader and former minister Syed AltafBukhari also condoled the demise of five family members, and demanded that their bodies be airlifted to their native village for the last rites.
Peoples Conference chairman SajadGani Lone wrote on twitter: “Heartfelt condolences to the families of the five residents of Karnah including children who have died tragically. Have requested Div Com Kashmir to airlift the bodies. He has been kind and assured all help if weather permits.”
Senior PC leader Imran Raza Ansari also expressed grief over the incident.
CPI (M) leader Muhammad YousufTarigami expressed grief and shock over the tragic incident and demanded that the bodies be immediately airlifted to their native village.
J&K Congress party president GA Mir expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic incident and urged the governor’s administration to airlift the bodies to Tangdhar for the last rites and “ensure adequate relief to the bereaved family”.
State president of PDP women’s wing SafinaBaigh expressed grief over the incident and prayed for peace to the departed souls and courage to the bereaved family.