11 Indians found dead at restaurant in Georgia ski resort

New Delhi: Eleven Indian workers of a restaurant at a ski resort in Gudauri, Georgia were found dead, reportedly due to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a power generator.

The deceased hailed from northern states of India and were employed at 'Haveli', an Indian restaurant at the ski resort on the plateau of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range near Georgia's border with Russia. New Delhi’s diplomatic mission in Tbilisi stated that it was working with the local authorities to facilitate “the prompt repatriation of the mortal remains” of the deceased Indian nationals.

The local authorities have launched an investigation. “We are also in contact with the bereaved families and are committed to providing all possible support,” the Embassy of India in Tbilisi stated even as it sent one of its officials to the scene to coordinate with the local officials.

A Georgian also died along with the 11 Indian citizens.

The 12 people were found dead in second-floor bedrooms above the restaurant. The preliminary investigation suggested that the death might have been caused due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The carbon monoxide is suspected to have been emitted by a power generator, which was placed in a closed space and had been running for several hours, according to the investigators.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the government of Georgia stated that the deaths of the 12 people were being investigated as a case of negligent homicide.