Married couple among 11 Indians killed in Georgia gas poisoning
A man who was supposed to be celebrating his birthday and a married couple were among the 11 Indians who died Georgian ski resorts Over the weekend.
Relatives say Sameer Kumar, who had arrived in Georgia only a few months earlier, died along with the couple, Ravinder Singh and Gurvinder Kaur, above an Indian restaurant in Gudauri.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia Said It is believed that 12 victims – including a Georgian citizen – died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Indian government has said that it is in touch with the victims’ families and is working to bring back the bodies of those killed in the incident.
The Georgian ministry said in a statement that preliminary investigations showed no signs of violence or injury on the bodies, which were found on Saturday.
It is believed that the incident occurred after power generators placed near the bedrooms were switched on after power to the building was switched off.
Authorities are working to determine whether “negligent homicide” charges can be filed as a result of the deaths.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, and is known as the “silent killer”. It is produced after incomplete burning of fossil fuels. If the gas is inhaled, it prevents oxygen from being carried by the blood in the body. This can cause poisoning and can be fatal.
A BBC Punjabi team spoke to some of the victims’ families in the north Indian state of Punjab.
Gurdeep Kumar says his 26-year-old brother Sameer had recently moved to Georgia in search of employment opportunities.
“We last spoke to him on Friday, a day before his birthday,” he said. “The family tried to contact him on his birthday but received no response.”
A day later, he said, he traced the restaurant owner’s number and was informed about the incident.
The family is now urging the federal and state governments to bring his body back to India so that they can perform his last rites.
Family members are mourning the death of Ravinder Singh and his wife in Sunam village.
“They moved to Georgia in March after spending $1.3 million ($15,310; £12,060) in search of a better future,” Singh’s uncle Kuldeep Singh Bawa Kainchi told BBC Punjabi.
Gudauri is a popular tourist destination for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts. It offers a range of winter sports activities for visitors of all levels.
Its history dates back to the 19th century when it was known as a trading post on the ancient Georgian military road connecting Russia with Georgia.
Gudauri is located in the Caucasus Mountains in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, about 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) above sea level and about 120 km (75 mi) north of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
Additional reporting by Gurminder Singh in Punjab
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