In a heartbreaking incident, three air conditioning mechanics were found dead in their one-room house in Dakshinpuri’s JJ cluster in South Delhi on Saturday morning. Police believe the cause may be a gas leak from cylinders used for AC repairs.
The men who died have been identified as Imran (also known as Salman), 30 years old, Mohsin, 20, and Kapil, 18. They lived and worked together. A fourth person, Haseeb, is in critical condition and is being treated at a hospital.
According to police, the room where they lived was small, poorly ventilated, and used as both a living space and a workspace. Around 11 a.m., police were alerted by a man named Zeeshan, who said his brother wasn’t answering calls and the house was locked from the inside. Police broke open the door and found all four men unconscious on the first floor.
They were first taken to Ambedkar Hospital and later moved to Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS Trauma Centre. Three were declared dead, and Haseeb remains under treatment.
Police officers said they noticed a strong smell of gas when they entered the room. There were no signs of forced entry or injuries on the bodies, leading them to suspect a gas leak, possibly from cylinders used for air conditioner repairs. Forensic tests will confirm the exact type of gas involved.
Initial investigations suggest the gas leaked while the men were asleep, causing them to fall unconscious and die due to suffocation. Police said the room had poor ventilation and the victims had been living there since October. They had stored gas cylinders inside and might have been doing repair work in the room.
The small room was about 25 square yards in size and had a kitchen and bathroom.
Mohammad Ayub, a relative of Mohsin and Haseeb, said the two were cousins and worked with Imran in the AC repair business. Ayub received a call from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, saying the men were not answering phone calls. When he arrived, police were already there. He said when police entered the room, they found two bodies on the bed and two on the floor. Gas cylinders were found near the kitchen. One of the room’s ventilation windows was also closed—possibly to keep the room cool with the AC on.
Police are investigating the case further and waiting for post-mortem and forensic reports to confirm the exact cause of death.
