In a shocking incident, two men in India, who were also food vendors, were found dead in their rented accommodation on Saturday (Jan 11) in Noida’s Sector 70 after a pot of 'chhole' (chickpeas) was left on a gas stove overnight, filling their room with smoke, according to media reports.

Advertisment

Neighbours help, but victims declared dead at hospital

The deceased, identified as Upendra (22) and Shivam (23), were food vendors in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. They sold local delicacies 'chhole kulche' and 'bhatura' in the area. Both were residents of a small, poorly ventilated room in Basai village.

Their neighbours saw smoke coming from the room in the early morning hours and broke down the door to find the two men unconscious. They were rushed to the district hospital in Sector 39, but sadly the doctors declared them dead on arrival. 

Advertisment

As per the initial police investigation, the men had left a pot of 'chhole' cooking on the stove before going to sleep. The stove was burning throughout the night, which led to the food blackening and emitting thick smoke that filled the unventilated room, according to a report on India Today website. 

“Initial investigation suggests that suffocation caused by the accumulation of smoke and carbon monoxide in the poorly ventilated room led to their deaths,” the report quoted a  Noida Police official as saying.

Also Read: India: Man dies after swallowing live chick in suspected occult ritual; bird recovered alive

Advertisment

Autopsy report 

The police confirmed that there were no external injuries on the bodies.

"The post-mortem will provide more clarity, but our initial findings indicate suffocation as the likely cause," added the official, according to the report.

Also Read: India: Woman opens parcel expecting appliances, finds dead body and ransom note inside

(With inputs from agencies)