A severe tragedy caused by indoor heating hazards unfolded in the Dumka district of Jharkhand. In Behrabank village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Mufassil police station, a charcoal brazier lit to ward off the night chill turned deadly for a local family. As the entire house remained shut tight throughout the night, the accumulating fumes from the brazier slowly saturated the bedroom while the occupants were asleep. The incident resulted in the suffocation and death of an 11-year-old girl, while her mother and two other young girls were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Brazier Was Lit To Protect An 11-Day-Old Newborn Baby
According to members of the family, an 11-day-old newborn baby had recently arrived in the household. In an attempt to protect the vulnerable newborn from freezing night temperatures and maintain warmth inside the room, the family lit a traditional coal brazier before going to bed. All doors and windows of the house were kept completely closed to keep cold air out. Deprived of any natural ventilation, the room steadily filled with smoke and poisonous combustion gases over several hours, which the sleeping family members could not notice.
Neighbors Broke Window After Family Failed To Wake In Morning
The incident came to light the next morning when no one from the household emerged or answered calls for an unusually long time. Neighbors grew concerned over the lack of activity and shouted from the outside to wake the residents, but received no response from within. Alarmed by the silence, neighbors peered through a window and spotted the family lying motionless. The villagers promptly broke open the window to gain entry into the sealed room, where they found the mother and all three girls completely unconscious. One by one, the neighbors carried them out into fresh air.
Doctors Declared 11-Year-Old Girl Dead On Arrival At Hospital
With the prompt help of local residents, all four unconscious individuals were transported to the hospital immediately. Upon arrival, medical personnel examined the victims and officially pronounced 11-year-old Nikku Kumari dead. Meanwhile, her unconscious mother and two other girls were admitted to the facility where emergency treatment was started. Medical staff continue to monitor their physical condition closely as treatment progresses.
Suffocation Suspected Pending Medical And Investigative Findings
Initial circumstances indicate that severe oxygen deprivation and inhalation of smoke in the airtight room caused the occupants to asphyxiate in their sleep. However, the precise physical cause of death and official verification of the incident will be confirmed once investigative procedures and medical reports conclude. The tragic loss of the 11-year-old child has plunged the grieving family and the surrounding community into mourning, as relatives remain in shock while waiting for the three hospitalized survivors to recover.
