A PAUSE BEFORE ETERNITY: Mourners gather to listen to eulogies to four youths who died on the intervening night of January 4-5 in Kohima, caused by what is believed to be poisoning after inhaling emissions from burning charcoal in the room the deceased were sleeping in. (Imchawapang Jamir Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima/Dimapur | December 5
In one of the most unsettling tragedies in the recent times in Nagaland, four youths died today here at Kohima within the premises of the Indira Gandhi stadium, from what is initially believed to be asphyxiation or poisoning after inhaling emissions from burning charcoal/coal. The night before today’s tragedy was a concert performed by the Shillong Chamber Choir, in aid of Kohima Village Students’ Union’s platinum jubilee.
Four of them were discovered dead this morning at around 8:45 am owing to carbon monoxide poisoning. Three other boys were taken to the ICU of NHAK where they are responding positively to treatment.
The deceased have been identified as Honjai Konyak from Longkai village, Tiatemsu from Longjang village, Moalong from Moayimti village and Bendangrenba from Kangtsung village. The names of the boys who are recovering at Naga Hospital are Pongyei Konyak from Totok village, Yanger from Mongsenyimti village and Bendang from Longsa village.
It is reported that the four deceased were workers of ‘Metal Gear’, a private music equipment company that specializes in elaborate stages for music artists. On the ill-fated night, a group of seven young men camped in a small room inside the premises of the IG stadium along with three huge ‘Chula’ (metal burners holding live coal/charcoal and used as a heat source in cold conditions) to keep themselves warm in the bitingly cold Kohima night. It will never be known if the boys forgot to take the burners out before sleeping or if they even knew about the dangers of using charcoal/coal in closed rooms.
Speaking to this reporter, Police informed that the windows of the room had no air inlets or ventilation; the windows were tightly ‘blocked’ with cardboard pieces which made it impossible for any air to flow in or out. It was also informed that the boys had been sleeping in the same room for a few days with no accidents until the fateful night.
The Kohima Village Students’ Union (KVSU) organized a short send-off funeral service which was held at the IG stadium at around 3:00 pm after which the bodies were received by the families and student unions respective to the communities of the deceased. Keviyiekielie Linyü, executive director of Angami Baptist Church Council led the prayer during the send-off funeral.
In Dimapur, the bodies of deceased were received at Lingrijan Government Primary School ground. After the arrival, a brief memorial service was conducted attended by many hundreds of mourners, well-wishers and a host of friends and relatives of the departed souls. Among the dignataries present during the service were MLA SI Jamir, former DMC councilor Lipok Pongen, former Deputy Commissioner and presently the Commissioner of Excise of Dimapur Maong Aier, Assitant Commissioner for Excise K Chuba Ozukum. The last rites will be conducted on Friday.
