Four Family Members Die After Inhaling Motorcycle Exhaust Fumes
Police said the house was narrow and had poor ventilation. Smoke released from the motorcycle engine reportedly filled the room during the night. Ramachandraiah, Karthik and the twin girls are believed to have inhaled the fumes and died in their sleep
TIRUPATI: Four members of a family, including two minor girls, died of suspected asphyxiation after inhaling exhaust fumes from a motorcycle that had been left running inside a house at Thyagaraj Nagar in Punganur town of Annamayya district on Saturday night. The deceased were identified as Ramachandraiah (70), his grandson Karthik (15), and twin granddaughters Charitha and Chandana, aged eight.
According to the police, Murali and Revathi are a couple residing in the area along with Murali’s father Ramachandraiah and their three children. Murali had taken his motorcycle to a mechanic after noticing a problem with the engine. After repairing the vehicle and boring the engine, the mechanic reportedly advised him to keep the motorcycle running overnight.
Following the advice, Murali brought the vehicle home on Saturday evening and kept the engine running inside the house after closing the doors. Later that night, Ramachandraiah and the three children slept in a room on the ground floor, while Murali and Revathi slept in a room on the upper floor of the house.
When the door remained unopened for a long time on Sunday morning, Murali, with the help of neighbours, broke it open and found the four lying motionless inside the house. On being informed, the police rushed to the spot and collected details.
Police said the house was narrow and had poor ventilation. Smoke released from the motorcycle engine reportedly filled the room during the night. Ramachandraiah, Karthik and the twin girls are believed to have inhaled the fumes and died in their sleep.
“A preliminary inquiry suggests that the victims may have died due to asphyxiation after inhaling exhaust fumes from the motorcycle that was left running inside the house. However, the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination,” a police officer said.
Murali and Revathi escaped unharmed as they were sleeping upstairs. The deaths have left the family and residents of the locality in shock. The police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.
