Desk Correspondent , Delhi - As a severe cold wave grips Northern India, medical experts and authorities are raising an urgent alarm over a "silent killer" that has claimed multiple lives over the past week: the improper use of room heaters and traditional angithis (coal braziers). From upscale high-rise apartments in Delhi to modest rural homes in Bihar, a series of tragic deaths has been reported, with victims dying in their sleep due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and sudden oxygen depletion in poorly ventilated rooms.

In the National Capital, several incidents have come to light where families were found unconscious or deceased in sealed rooms with gas or electric heaters running overnight. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that builds up when fuels like coal, wood, or gas burn in confined spaces. Doctors explain that CO binds to hemoglobin in the blood more effectively than oxygen, essentially "suffocating" the victim from the inside without them ever waking up. "It’s a painless death, which makes it incredibly dangerous. People simply slip from sleep into a coma and then death," a senior physician from a leading Delhi hospital stated.

The crisis is equally acute in rural Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where the use of coal-based angithis is common. In several village clusters, entire families have succumbed to toxic fumes after bringing burning coals inside their bedrooms to combat sub-zero temperatures. Health officials emphasize that while electric oil-filled radiators (OFRs) are safer as they don't burn oxygen, even they can pose a fire hazard if placed near curtains or bedding.
Safety Recommendations from Doctors:
1. Never leave a heater or angithi running while sleeping.
2. Ensure at least one window or door is slightly ajar to allow cross-ventilation.
3. Install Carbon Monoxide detectors if using gas or coal-based heating.
4. Keep heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials like blankets or furniture.

As the mercury continues to drop, local administrations are launching awareness campaigns to educate citizens that the very tools used for survival can become lethal if the "hidden cost of warmth" is ignored.