A married couple has died after reportedly inhaling toxic fumes from a barbecue stove inside a rented house in the Meepilimana area of Nuwara Eliya on Tuesday (03).
According to the Police, the deceased are a 52-year-old ship captain and his 46-year-old wife, both residents of Avissawella.
The couple had been involved in the construction of a tourist hotel in Meepilimana and were temporarily staying in a rented house near the construction site.
Police said the couple had reportedly lit a barbecue stove inside their room due to the extreme cold weather in Nuwara Eliya and had gone to sleep with the stove still burning.
The incident came to light after relatives attempted to contact the couple by telephone early Tuesday morning but received no response.
The relatives subsequently informed the local Grama Niladhari officer, who visited the house and discovered the couple dead.
The Nanu Oya Police were subsequently informed of the incident. (Newswire)