Suffocated: Two dead, 12 unconscious from inhaling coal fumes

Victims exposed to carbon monoxide all night as the room had no ventilation.

HANGU: A woman and her seven-year-old son died while 12 other people of their family fell unconscious by inhaling coal fumes all night. 

The incident occurred in Muhammad Khwaja on Thursday night, Hangu Executive District Officer (EDO) [Health] Dr Muhammad Ishaq Bangash told The Express Tribune. The family was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in the morning.

The victims were exposed to carbon monoxide as the room had no ventilation and coal was burning all night, he said, adding that if the victims had not been taken to the hospital on time, casualties would have risen.

Bangash added that the 12 survivors were given oxygen but some are still under the effect of the poisonous gas.  He said that it will take time for them to recover completely as poisonous gases have been mixed in their blood.

The EDO added that in case of any complication they will refer the patients to a hospital in Peshawar.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2012.