Daijiworld Media Network - Surat

Surat, Feb 10: Three members of a family, including a 12-year-old boy, were found dead at their residence in Surat on Tuesday, with police suspecting accidental suffocation due to inhalation of toxic fumes.

The deceased have been identified as Faiz Ahmed (40), his wife Mubina (36) and their son Nomna (12), residents of the Haripura area under the Lalgate police station limits. The family had returned from Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia just a week ago.

Their bodies were discovered in the morning inside the main hall of the house. While initial reports suggested suicide, police said the circumstances at the scene pointed towards accidental exposure to toxic gas.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Raghav Jain said first responders experienced a strong stench of gas and a suffocating atmosphere upon entering the house. Preliminary examination revealed froth near the mouths of the victims, a symptom commonly associated with inhalation of toxic fumes.

Officials noted that the hall contained both an air-conditioning unit and gas connections, raising suspicion that a leak or malfunction may have turned the room into a fatal enclosure.

“Prima facie, it appears that a gas leak led to the deaths,” Jain said, adding that while ingestion of a toxic substance is being examined as a secondary possibility, environmental indicators strongly suggest accidental suffocation.

A forensic team has been deployed to inspect all household appliances and gas connections to ascertain the exact cause of the incident. Further investigation is underway.