Pune, 10th October 2026: A 30-year-old IT engineer was found dead in his rented flat in Somnathnagar, Wadgaon Sheri, Pune, after allegedly falling asleep with an electric hot water bag under his neck to relieve pain. Police suspect that an electric shock may have caused his death, although the exact circumstances remain unclear.
The deceased, identified as Rohan Kubadi, had been living alone in the flat for around three months. His body remained inside the apartment for approximately two days before the incident came to light.
The landlord became suspicious after noticing a foul smell coming from the flat and receiving no response to phone calls. When the door was opened, Kubadi was found dead on the bed. Chandannagar police reached the spot after being informed about the incident.
Police found an electric hot water bag under Kubadi’s neck, raising suspicion that the device may have caused an electric shock while he was asleep. However, investigators have not yet established whether the appliance had a technical fault or whether another cause led to his death.
The post-mortem report and examination of the device are expected to help establish the cause of death, police said.
Hot water bags are commonly used to relieve neck pain, back pain and other body aches. Electric hot water bags have also become increasingly popular because they can be heated using electricity.
However, the incident highlights the importance of using such devices carefully and following the manufacturer’s safety instructions. Users should avoid sleeping with an electric heating device in contact with their bodies, particularly near the neck, and should stop using any appliance that shows signs of damage or malfunction.