Krishnagiri: An engineering student died allegedly due to gas poisoning in a moving car in Krishnagiri district, police said on Saturday. The tragedy occurred when 21-year-old H. Rakshith was travelling alone in a car with carbon monoxide gas cylinder. According to his relatives, Rakshith died allegedly because of the faulty chemical cylinder from which gas had leaked.
On Friday, Rakshith- an M. Tech final year student of Tiruchy-NIT left his home at Sri Nagar in Hosur after informing his parents that he was going to meet his project guide residing at SIPCOT complex in Hosur.
His father L. Harinath first called his son on his mobile phone at around 2.30 pm, but the call was not answered. The rice merchant, believing that his son would be busy with his project work, did not immediately press further.
He called Rakshith again at around 6 pm, but it again went unanswered. Then, his worried father traced the car with details of GPRS device, which showed the location of the vehicle. The car was found parked on the road side at a place close to ESI junction in the Hosur inner ring road.
Harinath went to the spot and found his son sitting in the driver's seat. The boy was in unconscious state. He was removed from the car by breaking the window glass and was taken to the Hosur government hospital.
The doctors who examined him declared that the Rakshith was brought dead. He died many hours before he was transported to the hospital. Investigation revealed that the Rakshith was a victim of gas poisoning.
The police came to such a conclusion after recovering a gas cylinder having carbon monoxide from the rear seat of the car.
“The victim was transporting the gas cylinder. Leak from the cylinder has filled the car with the poisonous gas, which killed him. He could have escaped if Rakshith had not used AC,” C. Venkatesh, sub-inspector of Mathigiri police station said.
He added, “leak from the gas cylinder having Carbon monoxide cannot be detected as in Rakshith’s case, as this poisonous gas is odorless and also non-irritant.”
The body of Rakshith was handed over to his relatives on Saturday after completing the post-mortem at the Hosur government hospital mortuary. A case of accidental death has been registered.
