Carbon Monoxide Turns Winter Warmth Deadly
Medical experts warn that the winter heater silent killer continues to claim lives across North India as temperatures drop sharply. Carbon monoxide, a colourless and odourless gas, builds up in closed rooms when heaters and braziers run for long hours. Recent deaths reported from Delhi, Punjab and Bihar highlight the growing danger. Doctors say most victims fail to sense the risk until it is too late, Zoom Chronicle reported.
Fatal Incidents Reported Across North India
In Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, a young couple and their month-old infant died due to asphyxiation. Police said they slept in a closed room with a lit brazier. In Delhi’s Mukundpur area, a family of three died in a house fire last week. Investigators suspect a room heater malfunction or electrical short circuit. Smoke likely knocked the family unconscious before flames spread. Meanwhile, in Bihar’s Gayaji, a grandmother and her two grandchildren died overnight. They had used an angeethi inside a closed room to stay warm.
Why Heaters Become Dangerous Indoors
The Kashmir Valley has also witnessed similar tragedies. In Srinagar, authorities found a chef, his wife and three children dead in a rented room. One child was only 28 days old. Police recovered an electric blower from the room. They suspect oxygen depletion caused the deaths. Doctors explain that heaters consume oxygen in enclosed spaces. This leads to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Victims often feel dizzy or tired before losing consciousness. Most never realise the danger.
Doctors Share Life-Saving Safety Tips
A long-term AIIMS New Delhi study found that most carbon monoxide deaths occur in winter. Coal-based heaters in poorly ventilated rooms caused most fatalities. Doctors also warn about dry indoor air from prolonged heater use. This can worsen asthma, allergies and skin problems. Experts advise keeping doors or windows slightly open. They also warn against leaving heaters on overnight. Placing water containers indoors helps retain moisture. Installing carbon monoxide sensors can save lives. Regular servicing of heaters also reduces risk, doctors said.
