Six members of a family including a toddler were found dead on Friday morning, in Shastri Park of New Delhi. The police say that they died of suffocation after they inhaled toxic gas released from a mosquito coil, which they had left burning overnight.
"Six people in a family were found dead in their house in the Shastri Park area after they inhaled carbon monoxide produced from the burning Mosquito coil that had fallen over a mattress sometime during the night. The toxic fumes caused inmates to lose consciousness and later died due to suffocation," said DCP North East district Joy Tirkey told ANI.
The police were called to a house at Mazar Wala Road, Machhi Market, Shastri Park at 9 am, where a fire had broken out. When the police rushed to the spot, they found 9 people in the house.
According to PTI, the Fire department said three water tenders were rushed to the spot after receiving information about the blaze.
The deceased included, four men, one woman and a toddler of one and half years of age.
Meanwhile, two others, including a 15-year-old girl, have been taken to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital and are being treated for burn injuries. Another 22-year-old man has been discharged after first aid.
Further investigation is underway and details are awaited.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas, the most common source is the partial combustion of carbon-containing compounds when not even oxygen is present. It is particularly dangerous in tightly sealed or enclosed spaces, as it may allow carbon monoxide to accumulate to dangerous levels.