Amid bone-chilling cold, asphyxiation claims lives in J&K

Kulgam, Jan 4: A tragic incident in Gudar village of South Kashmir's Kulgam district has claimed the life of a young boy and left his mother in critical condition due to asphyxiation caused by charcoal fumes.

According to officials, the mother and son were found unconscious during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, following which they were rushed to a hospital.

Tragically, the boy, identified as Nisar Ahmad Khan, succumbed to the fumes on Saturday morning. His mother, Fameeda Akhter, remains hospitalised in critical condition.

This is the second asphyxiation case reported in Kulgam and the third in Jammu and Kashmir within a week.

In an earlier incident on December 28 in Ves Batpora village of Kulgam, a two-year-old girl died, and three family members were hospitalised after exposure to fumes from a charcoal fire pot used for heating. Similarly, on January 1, three people from Doda were found dead in a guesthouse in Bhaderwah valley, Kishtwar. A charcoal heater was found in their room, and suffocation was determined to be the cause of death.

As winter sets in, residents of Kashmir and the Chenab and Pir Panjal regions of Jammu rely heavily on various heating methods, including traditional charcoal firepots, to combat the severe cold. However, the excessive use of such methods in poorly ventilated spaces has led to an increase in asphyxiation incidents.

Medical experts have issued warnings about the dangers associated with traditional heating methods as well as sophisticated gadgets.

Dr Irfan Gul, a physician at GMC Anantnag, cautioned of the risks of using heating devices in closed spaces overnight.

"Such practices lead to the buildup of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, causing oxygen depletion. This can result in immobility or even death," Dr Gul said. He advised the public to minimize the use of traditional heating methods and to ensure proper ventilation to prevent such tragedies.