Winter’s ‘Silent Killer’: Heater and Brazier Deaths Rise from Delhi Flats to Bihar Villages

As harsh winter conditions tighten their grip across North India, space heaters and traditional braziers are emerging as a deadly threat inside homes. Doctors warn that improper use of heating devices in poorly ventilated rooms is leading to a spike in deaths caused by suffocation, fires, and carbon monoxide poisoning — often striking families in their sleep.

The latest tragedy was reported from Tarn Taran in Punjab, where a young couple and their month-old infant died after inhaling toxic fumes from a brazier used overnight in a sealed room. Similar incidents have surfaced across urban high-rises and rural homes alike.

In Delhi, a family of three was killed after a suspected heater-related fire filled their apartment with smoke. In Bihar, a grandmother and her two grandchildren died of asphyxiation after an angeethi was lit inside a closed room. Another heartbreaking case was reported from Srinagar, where a chef, his wife, and their three children were found dead, with investigators suspecting oxygen depletion caused by a heating blower.

Why carbon monoxide is called the ‘silent killer’

Medical experts describe carbon monoxide (CO) as especially dangerous because it is colourless, odourless, and tasteless, making it nearly impossible to detect without sensors. Doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences have noted that heating devices running on coal, wood, gas, or electricity can rapidly consume oxygen in closed spaces, allowing toxic gases to accumulate. Victims may initially experience dizziness, headaches, nausea, or fatigue before losing consciousness. A long-term study by AIIMS researchers found that nearly 95% of carbon monoxide deaths in India occur during winter, largely due to coal-burning heaters used indoors without ventilation.

Risks beyond suffocation

Doctors caution that prolonged heater use also dries indoor air, aggravating asthma, allergies, and respiratory illnesses. In extreme cases, dehydration and oxygen deprivation can even lead to neurological complications.

Safety steps doctors strongly recommend

• Never use heaters or braziers in airtight rooms

• Always keep a window or door slightly open

• Never sleep with a heater or angeethi running all night

• Place a bowl of water to maintain indoor humidity

• Install carbon monoxide detectors where possible

• Service electrical and gas appliances regularly

Health experts stress that awareness and basic precautions can prevent such avoidable tragedies during the winter months.