5 members of Tanghdar family die due to asphyxiation in Srinagar

Srinagar: In a horrific incident, five members of a family died due to asphyxiation here in Bemina area of Kashmir capital Srinagar. National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, Former Finance Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari have condoled the deaths and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.
Reports said that a pall of gloom descended upon the locals here in Boatman Colony after the five bodies of a family were found in a dilapidated room on Saturday morning. As the news about the death of five members of a family spread in the area, a police team from Bemina police post rushed to spot to ascertain the facts.
A police official said that a family from Tanghdar Kupwara had arrived here in Srinagar for a medical treatment to one of their family members. “They stayed in a rented room but died due to asphyxiation,” the official said adding that due to no ventilation in the room, all the five members of the family including two children died due to suffocation as a gas heater was found in the room.
He identified the deceased as Khurshid Ahmed Sheikh (45), Reshma Jan, Gulshan Jan, Faizan Ahmed Sheikh and Furqan Ahmed Sheikh.
“We have registered a formal case and a postmortem has been conducted upon the bodies. The bodies were airlifted to the native village of the deceased,” added the official.
This winter a number of people died due to asphyxiation in Kashmir. Two employees of Mughal Darbar Bakery & Restaurant died on last month due to suffocation at HMT Srinagar while in the same month three outside labourers died in Shou Kulgam.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah expressed deep anguish and shock over the death of five residents of Tanghdar including two children aged 8 and 5 who have died due to asphyxiation at their rented accommodation in Bemina, Srinagar.
Dr Farooq while expressing sorrow said, “It is deeply distressing to know about the incident. May Almighty give the bereaved much needed strength to bear the loss and peace to the departed souls.”
Omar Abdullah while expressing sorrow over the incident said, “I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the five residents of Tanghdar who have lost their lives tragically in the dreadful incident,” adding that in order to forestall such incidents from happening in future, administration must hold awareness campaigns by employing different modes of mass media including social media. “I urge the administration to grant adequate ex-gratia relief to the bereaved family. Meanwhile I take this opportunity to appeal the people to use appliances and other gadgets watchfully to ensure there is no harm to their life and property,” he said.
Condoling the demise of the five residents of Tanghdar the PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed the hope that the administration will take all measures for airlifting the bodies of the deceased to Tanghdar.
Taking to micro blogging social networking site twitter Mehbooba wrote “Very sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident where five of a family , residents of Tungdhar died of suffocation . My deep condolences to the family . Hope the administration takes all the necessary steps to ensure that the bodies are taken to Tungdhar at the earliest”.
Condoling the demise of the five Tanghdar residents, former Jammu & Kashmir Finance Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family who lost their dear ones including two kids tragically. I appeal the Governor led administration to extend all possible help besides airlifting their bodies for last rites at Tangdhar.” He also demanded immediate disbursement of ex-gratia relief for the bereaved family. The former finance minister also appealed the people of Kashmir valley to use the gas or other heating gadgets cautiously and ensure there is no damage to their life or property while bracing up the winter vagaries.
“The administration must also issue advisories in this regard and convene frequent awareness campaigns using different means of communication,” Bukhari remarked. The former minister also urged the administration to ensure disruption free electricity, drinking water supply and availability of fuel and ration especially in remote parts of the Valley.