2 drivers found dead in a parked car, CO poisoning suspected
The bodies of Sachin Sharma (27) and Lakshmi Shankar (50) — both residents of Khoda Colony in Ghaziabad — were discovered after family members broke the car's window.
The families of the two drivers — friends for almost a decade — started looking for them after they did not return home on Sunday night. "They searched for them all night without success. Calls to Sachin's mobile phone went unanswered as well. Around 2pm on Monday, locals informed the family about Sachin's car parked near a private institution," a senior police officer told TOI.
You Can Also Check:
Noida AQI
|
Weather in Noida
|
Bank Holidays in Noida
|
Public Holidays in Noida
After unsuccessful attempts to rouse the occupants of the car for about 10 minutes, the family informed the Sector 58 police station.
"After we broke the car's windows, we found both of them dead. There were no injury marks. We suspect they fell asleep with the AC running in the CNG car. When the fuel ran out, the AC would have switched off automatically, leading to carbon monoxide buildup inside the sealed vehicle," an investigating officer said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
Fellow cab driver Ravi said both friends were known to drink heavily. "They probably consumed liquor inside the car with the AC on and fell into deep sleep. They might have tried to escape when the gas filled the car, but couldn't open the door," he said.
A forensic team collected evidence from the scene, and sent both bodies for an autopsy. The families were yet to file any formal complaint till late on Monday evening.
Police said they would wait for the autopsy report to ascertain the exact cause of death.
"To piece together the sequence of events, we have started examining footage from CCTV cameras installed around the spot. We found they were good friends and their friendship was about a decade old. A lot of cab drivers park their cars along the roadside," an officer said.
Amit Kakran, the SHO of Sector 58 police station, emphasised the dangers of sleeping in cars with the AC on. "This incident should serve as a warning. Sleeping in a closed car with AC running can be fatal due to carbon monoxide buildup. Always ensure proper ventilation, keep the windows slightly open, and use CO detectors if possible," he advised.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Jagan urges legal fraternity to lead fight against 'misuse of power' by TDP-led govt
YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday called upon lawyers to spearhead the fight against what he alleged was a "dangerous misuse of power " by the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh. Addressing a meeting of the YSRCP legal cell at the party headquarters in Tadepalli, Reddy urged advocates to stand with victims and lead efforts to uphold justice amid what he described as growing political repression . Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program "The state is witnessing a dangerous political misuse of power. Innocent people are being jailed without evidence, and false cases are being filed for political reasons. Lawyers must take the lead in fighting for justice," Reddy claimed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo He described the current situation as extraordinary and said it placed greater responsibility on the legal community. Reddy accused the government, led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, of "trampling on justice and ethics, and of jailing political opponents without due process." He also alleged that confessions were being extracted through threats and bribes, and falsified evidence was being created. Live Events Calling the YSRCP's legal cell the party's "pillar of strength", Reddy said justice cannot be expected unless petitions are filed and arguments are made in court. He assured the legal fraternity that their efforts would be recognised and remembered by the party. The former chief minister recalled the initiatives taken for lawyers during the previous YSRCP regime, including the allocation of Rs 100 crore to the Advocates Welfare Fund and the government's contribution towards one-third of their insurance premiums. He also cited the 'Law Nestham' scheme, which provided financial support to young advocates, and noted that reservations were extended to backward-class lawyers in legal jobs. Reddy alleged that the current government had betrayed the legal community, comparing it to what he called "false" election promises like the 'Super Six' schemes. Accusing the TDP-led government of widespread corruption, Reddy claimed illegal liquor shops , known as "belt shops", were operating in every village. He also alleged that liquor was being sold above the maximum retail price and that large commissions were being collected in construction contracts, with mobilisation advances being misused. "While the YSRCP government signed power purchase agreements at Rs 2.49 per unit, the current government is signing them at Rs 4.60," Reddy claimed, adding that entrepreneurs were being forced to pay bribes even to start small businesses or industries. He further alleged that some police officers were actively supporting gambling clubs and other unlawful activities. Reddy also announced that the party would soon launch a mobile app that would allow citizens to report injustices and upload supporting evidence. "This data will be stored in a digital library and will help initiate action against those misusing power," he claimed. There was no immediate response from the ruling Telugu Desam Party.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
US companies spending record amounts to protect executives as threats rise
U.S. companies are spending record amounts to keep their executives safe in response to rising threats and the killings of two high-profile corporate officials in separate attacks in Manhattan over the last eight months. Corporations have doubled the number of plain-clothed security teams outside buildings in New York City since a shooting last week in which four people were killed, said Glen Kucera, president of the enhanced protection services unit at Allied Universal, a security and facilities services firm. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program "It's unspeakable. I never knew anyone who was murdered," said Rich Friedman, chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management , who previously worked with one of the victims, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner. Her death shook Wall Street, even though authorities believe her killing was a random event. Police said the shooter was targeting the headquarters of the National Football League, which is housed in the same building in the Midtown area of Manhattan where LePatner worked. The shooter also killed a New York City police officer, building security guard and employee at real estate company Rudin before turning the gun on himself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Discover Nikoo Homes from ₹1.2 Cr* Nikoo Homes Sadahalli Learn More Undo The attack was "shocking and hits very close to home," Citigroup spokesperson Ed Skyler said in a note to employees a day after the July 28 killings in Midtown. "Understandably, yesterday has also left many of us feeling uneasy," he said, assuring employees that the bank has beefed up security at its Manhattan headquarters over the last year. Threats against executives "have massively ramped up since 2020," said Chris Pierson, the CEO of cybersecurity firm BlackCloak. He noted how the man charged with murdering a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband near Minneapolis in June allegedly kept a target list of mostly other politicians and used online people-search services to find their addresses. Live Events Ben Joelson, head of security risk and resilience for the Chertoff Group, a security advisory firm, said threats against executives are higher than at any time in the decade he has worked in the field, with social media posts magnifying complaints against institutional leaders. Artificial intelligence is compounding the problem, leading to an "exponential rise" in realistic phishing attempts, Joelson was cited as saying in a report by research firm Equilar. When UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death in New York in December, it seemed to be a very rare "black swan event," Joelson told Reuters in an interview. But targeted attacks have continued, including the killings in Minnesota and the shooting deaths of two employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington in May. "It's increasingly acceptable for some bad actors or adversaries to address grievances through violence," which has led many companies to put a new focus on security, Joelson said. Matthew Dumpert, global leader of enterprise security risk management at financial and risk advisory firm Kroll, said a lot of existing and new clients reached out last week following the deadly attack in Midtown. "Several of the outreaches directly to me have been by the executive committees ... whoever owns risk. It's chief legal officers, admin officers, compliance officers, security officers," Dumpert said. He added that several clients that had emergency response projects slated to start later this year have asked him to "put those on the front burner. Start immediately, and let's move forward." 'TREND IS UNSURPRISING' Median spending on executive security for top officers including chief executives, chief financial officers and others rose 16% to a record $106,530 last year, according to new data from Equilar, which reviewed financial filings for the 500 largest U.S. public companies by revenue. Security spending includes surveillance and alarm systems for executives' homes, personal guards and cybersecurity protections. Equilar analysts said the trend is likely to continue as firms grapple with the growing threats to their executives and employees. The percentage of executives at those companies with such protection rose to 33.8% from 23.3% over the 2020-2024 period, Equilar said. Nearly a third of CEOs in the group, 32.4%, received security services last year, up from 21.9% in 2020; the value of those CEOs' security perks reached a median $77,976 last year, up from $40,052 in 2020. Tech companies had the biggest growth in implementing security measures for executives, with a 73.5% jump in those receiving the benefits from 2020 to 2024, but communications companies spent the most, at a median value of $1.2 million a year, Equilar found. Blue-chip companies such as Walmart, General Motors, American Express, and chipmaker Broadcom, previously disclosed new or increased security expenses from previous years following Thompson's killing. "The trend is unsurprising considering the broader concerns about executive safety amid geopolitical instability, increasing cyber threats and the high public visibility of top leadership roles," Equilar said in its report.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tougher checks for marriage-based Green Cards: US issues fresh guidelines to detect fraud- All you need to about the new policy
Representative image The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), introduced a significant update to its Policy Manual, specifically targeting marriage fraud in family-based immigrant visa petitions. The critical update to its Policy Manual titled 'Family-Based Immigrants', released August 1, is designed to ensure that only genuine relationships, particularly bona fide marriages, qualify for lawful permanent resident (green card) status in the US. This measure aims to prevent fraudulent applications and strengthen the integrity of the immigration process. The USCIS stated that thorough verification processes will be implemented to assess the authenticity of relationships submitted for immigration purposes. Why did this policy come into place? The USCIS took this firm stance in response to rising concerns that "fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non‑meritorious" immigration applications are undermining public confidence in family-based immigration and posing national security risks. USCIS explicitly stated its commitment to "robust alien screening and vetting that protects Americans from potential national security threats" and to "detecting aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the US." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Donating Sperm May Boost Your Income SpellRock Undo Additionally, there have been cases involving Indian nationals caught in marriage fraud. According to a recent release by the US Attorney's Office, in May 2025, Indian national Aakash Prakash Makwana pleaded guilty to marriage fraud. He overstayed his J-1 visa, arranged a fake marriage with a US citizen, fabricated rental and utility records to feign cohabitation, and falsely claimed domestic abuse to obtain a green card. Upon being convicted of marriage fraud, an individual faces significant prison time, fines, and deportation. Enhanced screening and vetting procedures The updated policy mandates more comprehensive evidence of bona fide marriages, including photographs, financial documents, and affidavits from acquaintances. Couples may face rigorous interviews to verify the authenticity of their relationship. The USCIS will scrutinize any history of multiple applications by a US citizen for different spouses or prior applications for the same beneficiary, flagging them for detailed investigation. USCIS may issue a Notice to Appear if the beneficiary is found removable due to ineligibility or fraudulent intent. Additionally, according to an earlier report, marrying a US citizen or green card holder no longer guarantees a smooth path to a green card. Immigration interviews are now stricter, with officers demanding more proof of a genuine relationship- from photos and call logs to joint finances and shared plans. Spouses abroad face rigorous consular interviews, while those in the US may be called for 'Stokes interviews,' where couples are questioned separately. Long wait times, especially for green card holder spouses, raise additional red flags. Immigration lawyers advise treating the process like an exam: prepare thoroughly, bring evidence, and be ready for personal questions. A weak case could mean denial — or even deportation proceedings. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
