Eight Indians die due to possible gas leak in Nepal resort

Eight Indian tourists, including four children, died on Tuesday (January 21) after they became unconscious due to a possible gas leak in their room at a resort in Nepal, according to media reports.

The Indian nationals were airlifted to HAMS hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival, Superintendent of Police Sushil Singh Rathaur said.

The deceased were identified as Prabin Kumar Nair (39), Sharanya (34), Ranjit Kumar TB (39), Indu Ranjit (34), Shree Bhadra (9), Abinab Soraya (9), Abi Nair (7), and Baishnab Ranjit (2), The Kathmandu Post report said.

The deceased – two couples and four children – were part of a group of 15 people travelling from Kerala to Pokhara, a popular mountainous tourist destination, The Himalayan Times reported.

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They were on their way back home and stayed at Everest Panorama Resort in Daman, Makawanpur district on Monday (January 20) night. According to the manager at the resort, the guests stayed in a room and turned on a gas heater to keep themselves warm.

Although they had booked four rooms, eight of them stayed in one room and others in another, the manager said, adding that all the windows and the door of the room were locked from inside.

Police suspect that they might have passed out due to lack of ventilation, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government said it would take all steps to ensure that the mortal remains of eight Keralite tourists are brought to the state as early as possible.

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Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed “deep grief” over the incident, a release from the Chief Minister’s Office said. On the basis of the directions given by the Chief Minister, NORKA (Non-Resident Keralite Affairs) officials have got in touch with the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

The bodies are expected to be brought to the state tomorrow after post-mortem, the statement added.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also sought the intervention of External Affairs minister S Jaishankar to render all assistance to the families of the eight tourists.

In a letter to the minister, Vijayan said, “We have heard the shocking news of the death of eight persons from Kerala who were on a visit to Nepal. I request your Ministry to kindly intervene for rendering all possible assistance to the families and friends of the victims.”

Jaishankar expressed grief on Twitter and said he was “deeply distressed” by the news of the death of the 8 terrorists. He added that the Indian Embassy was closely monitoring the developments of the situation.

Deeply distressed by the tragic news of the passing away of 8 Indian tourists in Nepal.Our Embassy @IndiaInNepal hs been closely following the situation.Embassy officials are stationed at the hospital& are providing necessary assistance.Our thoughts are with the bereaved families

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2020