A 15-year-old girl from Borivli West died after inhaling carbon monoxide fumes from a gas geyser while bathing at her home on October 14, police and doctors confirmed on Friday.
The victim, Harshita Amit Nalekar, a Class 10 (SSC) student, was found unconscious inside the bathroom of her apartment at Bhushan Heritage, Chikoowadi, after her parents noticed water overflowing from under the door.
Despite being revived and kept on life support for four days at Phoenix Hospital, she succumbed to severe brain damage caused by the toxic gas on October 18.
🕯️ Incident and Rescue Efforts
According to Borivli police, the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. when Harshita went for a bath.
“After a few minutes, water started overflowing. Her parents tried to open the door but couldn’t. They had to call a carpenter to break it open. Harshita was found unconscious inside,”
a police officer said.
The family’s doctor, Dr Vijay Kasulkar, was called immediately, and Harshita was rushed to Phoenix Hospital, where doctors attempted resuscitation.
🏥 ‘Her Brain Had Stopped Functioning’
Dr Grishma Patel, Medical Administrator at Phoenix Hospital, said Harshita was admitted around 12 p.m. in a critical state.
“She wasn’t breathing and had no pulse when brought in. Our team performed CPR and revived her. However, her CT scan and MRI showed that her brain had completely stopped functioning,”
Dr Patel said.
Harshita remained on a ventilator for four days before passing away.
“Our physician, Dr Anuj Mehta, found her heart had stopped before arrival. It was a clear case of carbon monoxide poisoning,” Dr Patel added.
☠️ ‘Gas Geysers Are Silent Killers’
Doctors warned against the use of gas geysers in enclosed bathrooms, calling them silent killers.
“Gas geysers produce carbon monoxide, a poisonous, colourless, and odourless gas that can cause unconsciousness and death within minutes in unventilated spaces,”
Dr Patel explained.
She urged residents to ensure proper ventilation and avoid running gas geysers while bathing, noting that Harshita’s death should serve as a “tragic wake-up call.”
👮♂️ Police Launch Investigation
Senior Inspector Madhusudan Naik of Borivli Police Station confirmed that an Accidental Death Report (ADR) has been registered.
“We received information from Phoenix Hospital about a girl found unconscious while using a gas geyser. An ADR has been filed, and further investigation is underway,”
Naik said.
The Nalekar family, devastated by the loss, has not spoken publicly since the incident.
⚠️ Safety Tips: Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Experts shared simple steps to prevent similar tragedies:
- Ensure Proper Ventilation: Never install gas geysers in closed bathrooms.
- Use an Exhaust Fan: Helps remove trapped fumes and improve airflow.
- Turn Off Geyser Before Bathing: Running gas geysers during showers increases CO buildup.
- Regular Maintenance: Get connections checked for leaks or malfunctioning valves.
- Install CO Detectors: Affordable alarms can alert households to toxic gas presence.
🧾 Case Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Harshita Amit Nalekar (15) |
| Location | Bhushan Heritage, Chikoowadi, Borivli West |
| Incident Date | October 14, 2025 |
| Death Confirmed | October 18, 2025 |
| Cause | Carbon monoxide inhalation from gas geyser |
| Status | ADR registered; investigation ongoing |
