T’puram: A 23-year-old final-year MBBS student at Alappuzha Govt Medical College was found dead inside his car parked along National Highway 66 under construction at Kallambalam on Wednesday.The deceased is Ashiq, son of Ansar and Seena, from Kilimanoor. The police suspect that he may have died by suicide after inhaling carbon monoxide generated by burning charcoal-like material inside the vehicle.Kallambalam Police said Ashiq left his house in his car around 4pm on Tuesday. As he did not return home even by night, his relatives became concerned and approached the police. A search was launched by the police along with his relatives to trace him.During the search carried out based on his mobile location, Ashiq was found inside his car parked on a service road of National Highway.He was rushed to Govt Medical College Hospital at Parippally, but doctors confirmed that he had died before reaching the hospital.Police said materials resembling charcoal were found burnt inside the car. Based on the preliminary circumstances, investigators suspect that the material generated carbon monoxide inside the closed vehicle and that Ashiq may have inhaled the poisonous gas. Officials said a case had been registered for unnatural death and an investigation was under way to establish the exact sequence of events and the circumstances that led to his death.A forensic examination of the vehicle and the scene has also been completed, police said. Investigators are examining the findings as part of the probe. The body has been kept at Parippally MCH mortuary for further procedures.Police are also examining the circumstances in which Ashiq left home, the route he took and the location where the car was found.
