Three suffocate to death after using charcoal fire for warmth

 

By Sumesh Rajan | November 19, 2025

Belagavi, Karnataka, INDIA: In a tragic incident reported from Aman Nagar, three youths died and another was left in critical condition after inhaling carbon monoxide from a charcoal stove kept burning inside a closed room on Monday November 17 night. The incident came to light only on Tuesday November 18 evening, when neighbours, alarmed after repeated calls went unanswered, broke open the door and discovered the four unconscious.

The deceased have been identified as Rihan Matte (22), Moin Nalband (23) and Sarfaraz Harappanahalli (22). Shanawaz (19), who survived the exposure, is currently admitted to the ICU of a private hospital, where his condition remains critical.

According to police, the group had returned late at night after attending a wedding. Due to the severe cold gripping Belagavi, they lit a charcoal stove to warm the room and then closed the doors and windows before going to sleep. With little to no ventilation, the burning stove gradually depleted the oxygen inside the room and released carbon monoxide — an odourless, highly toxic gas. The youths are believed to have suffocated while asleep.

DCP (Law & Order) Narayan Baramani confirmed that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death. “The fourth youth remains critical. An investigation is underway to establish the exact sequence of events,” he said.

The Malmaruti police rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information and registered a case. The bodies were shifted to BIMS Hospital for post-mortem examination. Police have also collected samples of the charcoal and ash from the room for forensic analysis.

Local MLA Asif (Raju) Sait visited the site and met the families of the victims.

Authorities have once again issued a safety advisory against using charcoal fires inside closed or poorly ventilated spaces. Even brief exposure to carbon monoxide can prove fatal, as the gas binds with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin, cutting off the body’s oxygen supply.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the city, underscoring the life-threatening risks of using traditional heating methods indoors during winter.