Four friends were found dead under mysterious circumstances on Thursday morning in a rented room in an industrial area under Panki police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district. According to an initial investigation, the room was locked from the inside, and a tray of burning coal was found near the bodies, raising suspicion that the men may have died due to asphyxiation.
According to a preliminary police investigation, the men had burnt coal in a metal tray to keep themselves warm during the cold night. With the room shut from the inside and lacking ventilation, they are believed to have died of carbon monoxide inhalation in their sleep.
The victims — Amit Verma (32), Sanju Singh (22), Rahul Singh (23), and Daud Ansari (28) — all hailed from Taukulpur village under Tarkulwa police station in Deoria district. They worked as welders at an oilseed refinery unit that is currently under construction. The facility, reportedly owned by a man named Tarun and being developed by Indore-based Aditya Enterprises, has ongoing painting and welding operations. The four had been employed there for the past six months.
On Thursday morning, fellow workers living nearby became alarmed when the men failed to wake up even after repeated knocks. Police were alerted, and upon breaking open the door, they found all four lying dead on the floor.
According to Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal, the room had no ventilation. Coal burned overnight produced carbon monoxide, a colourless and odourless gas, that gradually filled the closed space. The victims inhaled the toxic fumes unknowingly as they slept. Forensic examination has been completed.
The temperature in Kanpur’s Barra Centre area had dropped to 10.4 degrees Celsius the previous night. The deceased were found sleeping on thin cardboard sheets or cloth coverings; some wore light clothing, and only three had thin blankets.
Authorities have sealed the factory premises while the investigation is on.
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