COIMBATORE: Two elderly residents of Annur in Coimbatore district died of suspected asphyxiation on Tuesday, hours after town panchayat employees conducted mosquito fogging operations in their neighbourhood.The deceased have been identified as Mohan, 65, and Prema alias Rani, 75. According to police, Mohan, a former truck driver, had been suffering from a chronic lung ailment for the past few years and receiving medical care at home on his doctor’s advice.Following the report of over three dengue cases in the vicinity, Annur town panchayat employees initiated fogging operations around 7 am on Tuesday to control the mosquitoes. Mohan developed severe breathing difficulties shortly after the fogging and died at his residence around 10am. His family cremated the body by 3pm.Around the same time, Prema, who lived in the same locality, also died. Her final rites would be held on Wednesday.The incidents came to light only around 6pm after police received information, as neither family had initially alerted the authorities. The Annur police subsequently visited the spot and initiated an inquiry.Police officials stated that Prema’s family members were reluctant to lodge a formal complaint. “The exact cause of death can only be confirmed if a postmortem examination is conducted,” an investigating officer said.
