The man who should have been celebrating his birthday and a couple were among 11 Indians who died in Georgian ski resort On the weekend.
Relatives of Sameer Kumar, who arrived in Georgia just a few months ago, say he died alongside married couple Ravinder Singh and Gurvinder Kaur, above an Indian restaurant in Gudauri.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia He said The 12 victims – including a Georgian citizen – are believed to have died after being poisoned by carbon monoxide.
The Indian government said that it is in contact with the families of the victims and is working to return the bodies of those who died in the accident.
The Georgian Ministry said in a statement that preliminary investigations did not show any signs of violence or injuries on the bodies that were discovered on Saturday.
It is believed that the accident occurred after an electric generator that was placed near the bedrooms was activated after a power outage in the building.
Authorities are working to determine whether the deaths could lead to “manslaughter” charges.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, known as the “silent killer.” It is produced after the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. The gas, if inhaled, prevents the carrying of oxygen through the blood into the body. This can lead to poisoning and can be fatal.
A team from BBC Punjabi spoke with some of the victims’ families in the northern Indian state of Punjab.
Gurdeep Kumar says his brother Samir, 26, recently moved to Georgia in search of job opportunities.
He added: “The last time we spoke to him was on Friday, one day before his birthday.” “The family tried to contact him on his birthday but did not hear back.”
He added that after one day, they tracked down the number of the restaurant owner and reported the incident.
The family is now urging the federal and state governments to ensure that his body is returned to India so that they can perform his final rites.
In Sonam village, relatives mourn the death of Ravinder Singh and his wife.
Kuldeep Singh Bawa Kayenchi, Singh’s uncle, told BBC Punjabi: “They went to Georgia in March after spending 1.3 million rupees ($15,310; £12,060) seeking a better future.”
Gudauri is a popular tourist destination for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts. It offers a range of winter sports activities for visitors of all levels.
Its history dates back to the 19th century when it was known as a trading post on the old Georgian Military Road connecting Russia to Georgia.
Gudauri is located in the Caucasus Mountains in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region at an altitude of about 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) above sea level, about 120 kilometers (75 mi) north of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
Additional reporting by Gurminder Singh in Punjab
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