Bath Turns Fatal: DRDA Employee, Wife Die of Gas Geyser Suffocation in Pilibhit Home

A government employee and his wife were found dead in their bathroom in Pilibhit on Sunday evening, in a suspected case of asphyxiation caused by a gas geyser. The incident occurred in Gurukul Puram Colony under the Kotwali police station area.

The deceased were identified as Harjinder (42), a Class IV employee at the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in Vikas Bhawan, and his wife Renu Saxena (40). The couple lived in a rented house in the colony and had no children.

According to police, Renu had recently suffered a fracture in her arm and her plaster was removed on November 30. As she was still in pain, Harjinder was helping her with daily activities. On Sunday evening, he was bathing her in the bathroom with the gas geyser switched on.

When there was no response from the house for a long time, neighbours alerted the police. A team led by City Kotwal Satyendra Kumar reached the spot and found the bathroom door locked from inside. The door was broken open, and both were pulled out, but they had already died.

Initial investigation suggests that gas from the geyser led to oxygen depletion in the closed bathroom, causing suffocation. Both bodies have been sent for postmortem examination.

Additional Superintendent of Police Vikram Dahiya said forensic experts and a dog squad were called to the scene, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Locals said Harjinder and Renu had a love marriage and were living alone in the rented house. The incident has left the colony in shock.

Doctors said gas geysers can emit carbon monoxide, a colourless and odourless but highly poisonous gas, especially in poorly ventilated spaces, which can lead to unconsciousness and death within minutes.