Georgia, December 17, 2024: At least 12 people have died in a tragic incident at an Indian restaurant in Gudauri, Georgia. Authorities investigating the case said the bodies showed no signs of violence.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the incident is being treated as a case of negligent loss of life under Article 116 of Georgia’s Criminal Code.
Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Congress MP from Amritsar, said the 12 people who died in Georgia were all from Punjab. “12 Punjabi’s have tragically died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at ski resort in Gudauri, Georgia. I urge CM @BhagwantMann & @KuldeepSinghAAP NRI Minister to take immediate steps to bring back bodies & support grieving families,” Aujla said in a post on X Monday.
The victims, believed to be employees of the restaurant, were found in a sleeping area on the second floor. Initial examinations showed no signs of violence on the bodies.
A generator, located in a nearby closed indoor space, is suspected to have been used after a power outage the previous evening, the ministry stated. Among the deceased, 11 are foreign nationals, while one is a Georgian citizen.
Police and forensic experts are conducting a thorough investigation. “Relevant examinations and a forensic medical analysis have been ordered to determine the exact cause of death,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed.
Interviews are being carried out with individuals connected to the case, and investigators are working intensively to establish the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has pledged to thoroughly investigate the incident and uncover the truth, with the investigation currently underway. The identities of the deceased have not been disclosed yet.