Four migrant workers from Assam found dead in labour shed near Hoskote in Karnataka; suffocation suspected

Four migrant workers from Assam working for a private company were found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a labour shed in Muthsandra village of Hoskote taluk, on the outskirts of Bengaluru city on Saturday (January 31, 2026).

The deceased have been identified as Jayant Sindhe, 25, Neerendranath, 24, Doctor Tide, 25 and Dhananjay Tide, 20. All four were employed at a soft drinks warehouse and were staying in a labour shed located close to their workplace.

According to the police, the men were reportedly sleeping inside the shed when the incident occurred. Preliminary investigation suggests that the deaths may have been caused due to suffocation, though the exact cause is yet to be confirmed.

Police on cause of death

Police said the workers had allegedly cooked food inside the shed late on Friday (January 30, 2026) night after shutting all doors and windows. Investigators suspect that poor ventilation may have led to oxygen depletion or inhalation of toxic fumes, resulting in their deaths.

The incident came to light when the men failed to report for duty on Saturday (January 31, 2026) morning, prompting co-workers to check on them. Upon receiving information, Sulibele police rushed to the spot and found all four workers unconscious inside the shed. They were declared dead on the spot.

“The doors and windows were found closed. There are indications that the workers may have died due to suffocation while cooking inside the room. However, we are not ruling out other possibilities at this stage,” a senior police officer said. Senior police officials visited the scene and conducted a preliminary inspection. The area was secured, and evidence was collected.

Poor living conditions of contract workers

The incident has caused panic among migrant labourers working in nearby industrial units. Local residents raised concerns over the poor living conditions of contract workers, pointing out that many labour sheds lack basic safety measures such as proper ventilation and fire safety facilities.

The bodies have been shifted to a government hospital for post-mortem examination. Police said the final cause of death will be determined after receiving the post-mortem and forensic reports. Statements from co-workers, warehouse management staff and contractors are being recorded.

Sulibele Police have filed an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) and a probe is underway to see whether there was negligence on the part of the employer or contractor in providing unsafe accommodation to the workers.