Winter hazard: Gas leak claims life of couple and unborn child

At some point in the night, gas pressure reduced, which caused the heater to stop burning and start leaking gas.

MANSEHRA:

With the first snowfall of the season in the area and the severe plunge in mercury that followed, a couple died due to asphyxiation in Mansehra city on Thursday.

Police quoted the family of Nasir, 26, a resident of Mohalla Dubb, saying he went to sleep on Wednesday evening with his eight-month pregnant wife, Fatima, 24, in their bedroom with the gas heater on. At some point in the night, the gas pressure reduced, which caused the heater to stop burning and start leaking gas.

This resulted in the death of the couple and their unborn child due to a deficiency of oxygen. On Thursday morning, when their relatives came to their house, the couple did not respond despite repeated knocking. They informed the police and then broke into their room. The bodies were shifted to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital where autopsies were conducted.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2014.