Authorities found twelve Indian nationals tragically dead in a restaurant in Gudauri, Georgia, with carbon monoxide poisoning suspected as the cause. Authorities discovered the workers in their bedrooms on the second floor of the establishment. The Indian Embassy in Tbilisi expressed deep sadness over the loss and is working closely with local authorities to repatriate the bodies and support the victims’ families.
Authorities believe the workers, staying in the restaurant’s accommodation, died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Initial investigations suggest that a power generator, operating in an enclosed space near the bedrooms after a power cut, released the gas. The fumes from the generator likely leaked into the rooms, asphyxiating the workers while they slept.
What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuel. It is highly dangerous and difficult to detect without specialized equipment. When inhaled, CO prevents the body from using oxygen effectively, which can disrupt normal function in vital organs such as the brain and heart.
Symptoms of CO poisoning can include headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, confusion, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness or death.
Treatment for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Treatment typically involves the administration of pure oxygen to help the body expel the toxic gas. In extreme cases, doctors may require patients to breathe pure oxygen at high pressure in a special chamber through hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can result in lasting damage to the brain, heart, and other organs, potentially causing neurological impairments, coma, or even death.
This tragedy highlights the deadly risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, particularly in enclosed spaces where improper ventilation is used with fuel-burning generators.
