RAHIM YAR KHAN, Jan 21: Five people of a family, including three girls, died from gas emitted from coals left burning to provide warmth during chilling cold in Kot Sabzal area of Sadiqabad tehsil.

The police said that locals saw smoke emitting from Abdul Khaliq’s house in Chak 164-P. They later forced the door open and found Khaliq, his son and three daughters dead due to suffocation. They saw a blanket had caught fire after felling on embers’ stove and was emitting huge smoke.

According to the police, Khaliq had tried to drag himself halfway to the door but fainted and in the meantime his blanket fell on the stove and started smouldering.

However, sources said that Kaliq, his son Abdur Razzak, 8, and daughters Sobia, 14, Saniya, 7, and Razia, 5, died from mere suffocation. The police have started investigations. — APP