Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Dec 31: A tragic incident unfolded in Bihar’s Gaya district where three members of a family died after inhaling toxic smoke from a coal brazier used to keep warm during the cold night.

The incident occurred in the Wazirganj police station area, where a 60-year-old woman and her two young grandchildren lost their lives. The deceased have been identified as Meena Devi, wife of Gango Manjhi, her three-year-old grandson Sujit Kumar, and five-year-old granddaughter Anshu Kumari.

According to police, the family had lit a charcoal brazier inside their room on Tuesday night to protect themselves from the cold before going to sleep. With the door and windows shut, smoke gradually filled the room, leading to suffocation.

Family members said they became alarmed later in the night and opened the room, only to find it engulfed in smoke and the three occupants unconscious. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead.

Wazirganj Station House Officer Neeraj Kumar stated that initial findings suggest the deaths were caused by asphyxiation due to smoke from the brazier. He added that a detailed investigation is underway and the exact cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem reports.

The bodies have been sent to Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College Hospital for autopsy. The incident has left the village in deep shock and mourning.
Police have urged residents to avoid using charcoal braziers or heaters in enclosed spaces. They advised keeping windows slightly open for ventilation and stepping outside immediately if smoke builds up or breathing becomes difficult.

Officials also recalled a similar tragedy reported on December 26 in Chhapra city’s Bhagwan Bazar police station area, where four members of a family died after inhaling poisonous fumes from a charcoal brazier used indoors during extreme cold.