Two domestic helps working for a hotel owner were found dead in their quarters at their employer’s residence in north Delhi’s Civil Lines on Thursday morning. The police suspect the duo died of suffocation after inhaling toxic fumes emanating from a tandoor (clay oven) in the room, which they had kept for warmth on Wednesday night.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Nupur Prasad said the deceased have been identified as Ranjit (45) and his brother-in-law Chandan (25), both residents of Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar. The two worked as cooks, said their acquaintances from the village, who had gathered outside the bungalow after learning about their deaths.
Relative’s version
Umesh, a distant relative, said he learnt about the incident from family back home and rushed to the bungalow. He was informed that Ranjit and Chandan had used the clay oven to cook on Wednesday night.
“They went inside their room later and ate there. It appears that they took the tandoor inside the room for warmth. We were told that they also shut the window and locked the door from inside,” Umesh said.
A distant relative, who had seen the bodies inside the quarters, said Chandan’s body was lying on the bed, while Ranjit was on the floor and the clay oven was next to them. “It seems like they died in their sleep. I had spoken to Ranjit on Wednesday afternoon,” he said.
Cops broke open door
Ms. Prasad said the police control room received a call by their employers, who own and run a hotel in north Delhi, around 9 a.m. after the two did not open the door and fail to respond. “Fire officials and the police broke open the door. They found them dead. The window was found shut and the door was locked from inside. Forensics Science Laboratory officials were also called to inspect the spot,” the DCP said.
The police said they suspect the duo died of asphyxiation after inhaling carbon monoxide. The bodies were taken for post-mortem to Sabzi Mandi mortuary in the afternoon.
Though glasses or alcohol bottles were not found inside their room, but the police are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine whether the victims were drunk on Wednesday night.
Never complained
Meanwhile, Umesh said Ranjit had been working for the hotel owners for over four years and never complained about them. Unfortunately, he said, Chandan had joined work about 10 days ago after returning from the village.
“Ranjit got him the job here a few days ago. He worked at an eatery earlier,” he said.
Both the deceased are survived by their wives and children, who reside in the village.
The DCP added that inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code have been initiated.
