MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The bodies of the newly-wed couple who were found dead in Athmuqam, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), are set to be transported to Karachi today, their families confirmed.
The deceased have been identified as Taha, a mechanical engineer, who was 25 years old, and Dua Zehra, a BBA student who was 22 years old. The couple travelled to AJK from Karachi on February 11 after celebrating their wedding on February 4 and their walima on February 8.
According to the police, the couple died due to suffocation, and their bodies were discovered in a guest house in Neelum Valley. Their relatives stated that the last contact with Taha was at 9pm on Friday. The couple had planned to leave for Neelum Valley on Saturday morning.
The young couple had died due to asphyxiation in the Neelum Valley where they had gone to celebrate their marriage.
Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Ahmed Janjua told Dawn that they left their luggage in the hotel, went touring Kel’s upper districts and returned at around 10:30pm.
According to him, the couple put on a gas heater to stay warm after the temperature dropped to -10°C, sealing even the slightest gaps in their room.
Following the Administration and Tourism Department’s safety recommendations, which were published before the asphyxiation events, the rest home staff recommended that they leave the cylinder outside after 30 minutes.
Mr Janjua continued, “The couple agreed, but they did not follow the instructions.”
Around ten in the morning on Saturday, employees knocked on every room to see if any services were needed by the visitors. He stated that although some people replied, the couple’s room did not, which raised concerns.
After several knocks went unanswered, the staff notified the district disaster management authority, whose staff pried the door open. They discovered the husband and wife dead inside. He added, “The man seemed to have fallen to the floor, possibly while trying to open the door, while the woman was lying in bed.”
Following the conclusion of the legal procedures, the bodies were moved to Muzaffarabad in the evening and given to their kin.
Timelessness suffocation risks in AJK present a serious threat mainly during winter because residents depend on gas heaters together with coal stoves for heat. Poor ventilation systems in guest houses as well as hotels and homes together raise the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning which results in fatal outcomes. Heating appliances that malfunction together with improper heater use in enclosed areas lead to most suffocation cases. The heating procedures of the region create special dangers for out-of-town visitors who lack awareness about regional heating practices. The prevention of fatal accidents in AJK’s cold areas depends on educating people about ventilation practices, detector installation, and the promotion of a safer heating system.
