Bengaluru: In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the local community, four young migrant workers from Assam were found dead inside their rented labour shed at E Muthsandra village in Hoskote taluk on Saturday morning. Preliminary investigations indicate that the deaths were caused by suffocation due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, allegedly after the victims left a cooking stove connected to a gas cylinder active in a poorly ventilated room.
The deceased have been identified as Jayant Sindhe, Nirendranath, Doctor Tide and Dhananjay Tide, all aged between 20 and 22 years. Police said the four men were employed as loading and unloading labourers at a nearby Coca-Cola warehouse and had been residing together in a small shed close to their workplace.
Incident comes to light after workers miss duty
According to the Sulibele police, the tragedy came to light early on Saturday morning when the four workers failed to report for their regular shift. Concerned colleagues attempted to contact them but received no response. Suspecting something was amiss, a few co-workers went to the shed where the men lived.
When there was still no answer despite repeated knocks, the door was forced open. Inside, all four men were found lying unconscious and unresponsive. Local residents immediately alerted the police, who rushed to the spot along with emergency personnel. However, the workers were declared dead on the spot.
Airtight room and cooking gas suspected
Preliminary inquiries suggest that the victims had cooked food late on Friday night. Police said that due to the cold weather, the men had reportedly shut all doors and windows tightly before going to sleep. Investigators believe that the cooking stove or gas cylinder may have remained active, leading to the build-up of carbon monoxide inside the confined space.
“The shed was completely airtight, with no ventilation at all. We suspect that carbon monoxide accumulated in the room after cooking. Since the gas is colourless and odourless, the victims would not have realised the danger. They likely lost consciousness in their sleep and suffocated,” a police officer closely associated with the investigation said.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is particularly dangerous as it deprives the body of oxygen without any warning signs, often resulting in death if exposure is prolonged in enclosed spaces.
Living conditions under scrutiny
The incident has raised serious concerns about the living conditions of migrant labourers working in and around Bengaluru’s industrial zones. Local residents and labour rights activists pointed out that many such workers stay in makeshift sheds with minimal safety standards, poor ventilation and little awareness of basic household hazards.
Officials said the shed where the men lived was small and not designed for residential use. There were no exhaust outlets or chimneys to allow smoke or gases to escape, making it extremely unsafe for indoor cooking.
Police action and post-mortem
The Sulibele police have registered a case of unnatural death and shifted the bodies to a government hospital for post-mortem examination. The autopsy report is expected to confirm the exact cause of death, though police said all preliminary indicators point towards carbon monoxide poisoning.
Senior police officials stated that they would also examine whether there was any negligence on the part of the contractor or employer in providing safe accommodation to the workers. Statements from colleagues, neighbours and warehouse management are being recorded as part of the investigation.
Call for awareness and safety measures
Officials stressed the need for greater awareness among migrant workers about the dangers of using cooking gas in enclosed spaces. They also urged employers and contractors to ensure that labourers are provided with safe housing that meets basic ventilation and safety requirements.
“This is a heartbreaking incident involving very young men who had come here to earn a living. Such deaths are preventable with proper housing and awareness,” a senior police officer said.
Conclusion
The death of four migrant workers in Hoskote is a grim reminder of the hidden dangers faced by labourers living in unsafe conditions. While the post-mortem will provide final confirmation, the tragedy underscores the urgent need for stricter monitoring of labour accommodations, better safety awareness and accountability to prevent such avoidable loss of young lives in the future.