Family of Five From Gingle Uri Baramullah Tragically Suffocates in Srinagar's Pandrathan Area

In a heart-wrenching incident, a family of five tragically lost their lives due to alleged suffocation in the Pandrathan area of Srinagar on Sunday.

Officials confirmed that the deceased family hailed from Gingle, Uri, in the north Kashmir district of Baramulla and had been living in a rented accommodation in Srinagar. The family members were found unconscious and rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

The head of the family, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, worked for a private firm. He, along with his wife, Saleema (32), and their three children—Areeb (3), Hamza (18 months), and a month-old infant boy—were residing in the area. The family had recently welcomed the birth of their child.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident, noting that such tragic events often occur during harsh winter months in Kashmir due to improper use of heating devices.

The incident has shocked the Kashmir Valley, with authorities urging the public to ensure the safe use of heating appliances to avoid such tragedies. Police officials emphasized that the exact cause of the incident will only be determined after the investigation is completed.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed their grief over the loss of lives. The Lieutenant Governor stated, “Saddened by the loss of precious lives in a tragic incident in Srinagar. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow and grief, extending his heartfelt condolences to the grieving relatives and praying for strength and patience to help them cope with this irreparable loss. He urged people to exercise utmost caution when using heating gadgets during the harsh winter months and stressed the importance of following government-issued advisories on the safe use of heating equipment to prevent such devastating incidents.