‘No smell, no warning’: Neurologist lists red flags during hot showers, says step out immediately if you have these symptoms

A hot shower can feel comforting during winter, but in certain conditions it can turn life-threatening. In recent weeks, multiple deaths across India have been linked not to hot water itself, but to gas geysers that filled closed bathrooms with carbon monoxide.

Neurologist Sikandar Adwani recently took to social media to warn about the hidden danger. In a post on X, Adwani wrote: “Two patients came to OPD today who were found unconscious in their bathrooms this morning. Both hot showers. Both gas geysers. Both closed doors. This isn’t about gas smell. It’s carbon monoxide—no odour, no colour, no warning. Just slow oxygen starvation to the brain.”

Warning signs to watch for
Adwani said carbon monoxide poisoning often gives little time to react, but certain symptoms should never be ignored while bathing. These include:


Sudden headache
Dizziness
Nausea or weakness
Unusual sleepiness
Confusion or brain fog

“If even one of these symptoms occurs, switch off the geyser, open the door or window, and step out immediately,” he warned.



Recent deaths linked to gas geysers
Earlier this month, a couple was found dead inside their bathroom in Pilibhit, with police suspecting suffocation caused by a gas geyser.

In another incident, a 30-year-old homemaker and her four-year-old daughter died in Bengaluru after inhaling carbon monoxide from a gas geyser at their residence in Govindaraja Nagar. Police said the woman’s elder daughter returned home from school around 3 pm and, after receiving no response from the locked bathroom, forced the door open with help from her uncle to find both victims collapsed.

Why gas geysers can be dangerous
Gas geysers are often cheaper than electric ones, heat water quickly, and provide continuous hot water as long as gas is available. They are economical where LPG or piped gas is inexpensive and are commonly preferred by large families.
However, they require proper ventilation, a functional flue, high-quality gas fittings, and regular servicing by trained technicians. When installed indoors without adequate airflow, they pose a serious risk of carbon monoxide buildup, which can be fatal within minutes. Safety experts recommend installing gas geysers only in well-ventilated spaces such as balconies or open utility areas.

Electric geysers aren’t risk-free either
While gas geysers pose a carbon monoxide risk, electric geysers can also be deadly if poorly maintained. According to a Times of India report, 30-year-old Ashwini Kedari from Pune district—who had topped the girls’ category in the 2023 PSI exam conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission—died after suffering an electric shock from a geyser. She was checking the water temperature when the device malfunctioned, leading to severe burns over 80% of her body.