Sudden death of two Indore youths exposes gas geyser risks:Postmortem confirms carbon monoxide poisoning; third such case in 6 months; experts say many cases go unreported

With the extended winter season prompting increased use of gas geysers, an unseen and silent danger has emerged inside city homes. In the past one month, two 20-year-old youths in Indore lost their lives while bathing, not due to illness or heart attack as initially suspected, but because of toxic carbon monoxide gas released from gas geysers operating in closed bathrooms. The shocking cause of death was revealed during postmortem and forensic examinations conducted at MGM Medical College, exposing the lethal risk posed by improper use of gas geysers in poorly ventilated spaces. Case study: How two routine baths turned fatal Both victims were young, healthy, and had no history of serious illness. In separate incidents, each youth entered the bathroom to bathe with the gas geyser switched on. The bathrooms were enclosed, with little or no ventilation. When the youths failed to come out for a long time, family members and friends grew suspicious. After repeated calls went unanswered, the bathroom doors were forced open. Inside, the youths were found lying unconscious. They were rushed to nearby hospitals, but doctors declared them brought dead. In one case, the youth was living with friends, while in the other, he was staying with his family. Initially, relatives believed the deaths were caused by sudden heart attacks. Forensic findings reveal carbon monoxide poisoning Postmortem examinations were conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at MGM Medical College by department head Dr B.K. Singh and assistant professor Dr Ankit P Jain. The forensic reports confirmed that both youths died due to carbon monoxide poisoning, a highly dangerous gas produced when gas geysers burn fuel in spaces with insufficient oxygen. Explaining the mechanism, Dr Ankit P. Jain said carbon monoxide is particularly deadly because it gives no sensory warning. Pink discoloration a crucial clue Forensic experts observed pink hypostasis on the bodies, a classic indicator of carbon monoxide poisoning. Normally, postmortem discoloration appears bluish or purplish, but in such cases the skin and internal organs turn pink due to the formation of carboxyhaemoglobin in the blood. This pink discoloration is a key forensic sign that confirms carbon monoxide poisoning, Dr Jain explained. A repeated and preventable tragedy Doctors pointed out that this is not an isolated occurrence. About six months ago, a 24-year-old woman in Indore also died due to carbon monoxide gas released from a gas geyser used in a closed bathroom. Medical experts stressed that such deaths are entirely preventable and occur mainly due to lack of awareness and improper installation of gas appliances. How Gas Geysers turn deadly Previous cases point to a wider pattern Medical experts warn that the Indore incidents are part of a disturbing nationwide pattern of gas geyser-related carbon monoxide poisoning, particularly during winters. · November 2025 | Aligarh (UP):
A 12-year-old girl died after suffocating in a bathroom due to carbon monoxide released from a gas geyser. In a separate incident in Deoria district, a woman died due to electrocution while plugging in a geyser, underscoring the risks associated with unsafe geyser use during winters. · October 2025 | Borivli West (Mumbai):
Fifteen-year-old Harshita Amit Nalekar died after inhaling toxic gas from a gas geyser while bathing at her home. Doctors at Phoenix Hospital found high levels of carbon monoxide in her body, which caused severe brain damage. She remained on a ventilator for four days before passing away. Borivli police registered an Accidental Death Report and launched an investigation. · December 2025 | Bengaluru:
A 30-year-old homemaker, K Chandini, and her four-year-old daughter Yuvi died after inhaling carbon monoxide from a gas geyser at their Govindaraja Nagar residence. They were found unconscious in a locked bathroom and later declared dead at Victoria Hospital. Experts say such incidents spike during winters as people increasingly rely on gas geysers for quick hot water, often overlooking basic safety measures. Safety advisory issued Health experts have advised residents to strictly follow these precautions: Authorities and doctors have urged people to treat carbon monoxide as a silent killer, warning that a routine winter habit can turn deadly within minutes if safety norms are ignored.