A 30-year-old IT engineer was found dead in his rented flat in Pune’s Vadgaon Sheri after he reportedly slept with an electric hot water bag under his neck, with police investigating whether an electrical fault caused his death.
The deceased was identified as Rohan Kubadi, who lived alone in a rented apartment in the Somnathnagar area of Vadgaon Sheri. He had moved into the flat about three months ago, according to a report by Sakal – Pune.
Kubadi’s body remained inside the apartment for two days before the incident came to light. The landlord reportedly noticed a foul smell from the room and found that Kubadi was not responding to phone calls. The landlord then opened the door and discovered him on the bed.
Chandan Nagar police reached the location after being informed about the incident. Police found an electric hot water bag under Kubadi’s neck, according to the report. They suspect that he may have suffered an electric shock while sleeping, but the cause of death has not yet been established.
Police said it was not clear whether the device had a technical defect or whether another cause was responsible for the death. The postmortem report and an examination of the electric hot water bag will be required to determine whether an electric shock caused the fatality.
Electric hot water bags, which are charged or heated using electricity, have become increasingly common for relieving neck pain, back pain and abdominal pain. The incident has drawn attention to the risks associated with using such appliances while sleeping or placing them close to the body, although the specific cause in this case remains under investigation.
The death also highlights the difficulty of detecting emergencies involving people who live alone. Kubadi’s body was discovered only after the landlord noticed the smell and the lack of response to calls. Police action is continuing, and the final cause of death will depend on the postmortem findings and the technical examination of the appliance.
