That night, they had their last conversation with family.
A newlywed couple’s honeymoon trip to Azad Kashmir turned into a heartbreaking tragedy when they were found suffocated to death.
The Karachi-based couple was found dead in their guesthouse.
The victims were identified as 25-year-old mechanical engineer Syed Muhammad Taha and his 22-year-old wife, Dua Zahra, a business administration student.
The two had arrived in the scenic region just days before their untimely demise.
The couple, who tied the knot on February 4, 2025, had left Karachi for their honeymoon on February 11.
Syed and Dua checked into a guesthouse in Athmuqam, a popular tourist destination in Neelum Valley, on February 14.
That night, they had their last conversation with family.
The couple confirmed their plans to check out the next morning and continue their journey deeper into the valley.
But the next morning, the guesthouse staff became alarmed when the couple failed to respond to repeated knocks on their door.
Upon forcing entry, they discovered the bodies—Dua lying on the bed and Syed collapsed on the floor.
Authorities were immediately notified, and the District Disaster Management Authority took charge of the situation.
Preliminary investigations suggest the couple had turned on a gas heater to combat the extreme cold, with temperatures dropping to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
In an attempt to keep their room warm, they reportedly sealed all windows and doors, unknowingly creating a lethal environment.
The guesthouse staff had allegedly advised them to move the gas cylinder outside after a short period.
However, it remained inside the room throughout the night. The build-up of gas led to suffocation, killing the newlyweds in their sleep.
Their bodies were transported to Muzaffarabad for legal procedures before being handed over to their families.
The bodies were then flown to Karachi, where they were received at Islamabad Airport’s cargo terminal. After that, they were taken to their residence in Malir’s Jafar Tayyar area.
Relatives of the deceased expressed their devastation, stating that the couple had been overjoyed about their trip.
They had shared their excitement just hours before the tragedy struck.
A grieving family member said:
“They were supposed to explore more of Neelum Valley that morning.”
The incident has highlighted the dangers of improper gas heater use, particularly in enclosed spaces.
Officials have urged travellers to take necessary precautions when using gas heating systems in cold regions.
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