Srinagar: A young boy died and his mother was critically injured as a result of asphyxiation caused by charcoal fumes in the Kulgam district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The incident highlights the growing reliance on unsafe heating methods due to prolonged power outages in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the victims, residents of Gudar village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, were discovered unconscious during the night between Friday and Saturday. The boy, identified as Nisar Ahmad Khan, did not survive the exposure to the fumes, while his mother, Fameeda Akhter, remains in critical condition in the hospital.

This incident marks the third occurrence of its kind in IIOJK within a week. Residents in the area increasingly depend on traditional charcoal heaters to endure freezing temperatures, a necessity driven by frequent and prolonged power outages during the winter months.

Experts have consistently warned about the risks associated with the use of charcoal heaters in poorly ventilated environments. They have called on authorities to address the ongoing power crisis, which not only exacerbates daily hardships but also increases the likelihood of such preventable incidents.