Two people died and four others were rushed to the hospital early this morning after a portable generator left running inside a sealed room led to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The incident occurred in a residential unit in the city’s outskirts. Police confirmed the victims were sleeping when the generator, placed indoors to combat a power outage, filled the space with toxic exhaust.
The four survivors remain under observation at the District Headquarters Hospital. Doctors described their condition as stable, though they continue to receive oxygen therapy to clear carbon monoxide from their bloodstreams.
“The room had no ventilation,” a police spokesperson said at the scene. “The victims didn’t realize the danger until it was too late.”
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, making it impossible to detect without a specialized alarm. When engines run in enclosed spaces, the gas accumulates rapidly, displacing oxygen and causing victims to lose consciousness before they can escape.
Authorities have issued repeated warnings regarding the use of fuel-powered equipment indoors during load-shedding hours. Despite these public safety campaigns, this marks the second incident of its kind in the district this month.
The families of the deceased have been notified. Police have ruled out foul play and are treating the tragedy as a case of accidental suffocation.
As the power grid continues to struggle, the risk of similar accidents remains high for households relying on makeshift power solutions. Officials are now urging residents to keep all generators at least 20 feet away from windows and doors.
