Nepali student identified after Sydney gas leak death at Riverstone restaurant; brother issues tribute

A young Nepali student has died in a gas leak at a Sydney-area restaurant while cleaning a kitchen, as police and fire authorities investigate the cause of the incident. The death occurred at the Haveli restaurant in Riverstone on Tuesday night, with emergency crews called to the scene around 9:15 p.m. local time after reports that a person was unresponsive inside the building. Authorities say extremely high levels of carbon monoxide permeated the kitchen during the cleaning work.

An additional cleaning contractor found the man on the restaurant floor alongside another man. Five police officers were hospitalised after attempting to render aid to the victims, while six residents who lived in apartments above the restaurant were evacuated but did not appear to be affected by the leak. Hazmat crews used gas detectors to assess air quality as investigators sought to determine the source of the exposure. Carbon monoxide itself has no odor, color or taste, though mercaptan is often added to give a warning odor in gas appliances.

Family members identified the deceased as Shiva Khatri, and his brother Mandip Khatri publicly shared a tribute on their behalf. In a statement posted to the community, he wrote that Shiva had “tragically lost his life yesterday morning in a workplace accident,” adding thanks for the kindness, prayers and support from the community. Mandip said the family is now focused on repatriating Shiva’s remains to Nepal so he can be laid to rest with his relatives. A GoFundMe campaign created to support the repatriation effort quickly surpassed $39,000 in its first day as community members rallied behind the family.

Parramatta Councillor Sreeni Pillamarria expressed condolences, saying the community was deeply saddened by the loss and offering support to Shiva’s family and the Nepali community in Australia. Authorities have stressed that the investigation into the exact cause of the leak is ongoing. Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood described the scene as police attempted CPR and initially sensed something was “amiss” in the environment, including an unusual odor, while trying to save Shiva.

The restaurant owner, Resham Singh, said he does not yet know what caused the gas leak or even the deceased cleaner’s name, noting that the contractor who supplied the cleaning staff had informed him only of the incident. Singh added that the cleaner was performing his duties when the incident occurred, and that the Haveli restaurant in Riverstone and a separate Haveli location in Stanhope Gardens are managed separately. Police have returned to the scene to continue their inquiries, and investigators are reviewing building systems and safety procedures to determine whether any fault or maintenance issue contributed to the exposure.

Five police officers who helped attempt to save Shiva were among those injured in the incident and were taken to hospital, where they were described as being shaken but stable. Authorities said they would continue to assess all potential contributing factors, including ventilation, gas supply lines and any structural concerns at the time of the incident. The investigation has not yet established a definitive cause, and NSW Police emphasised that they are pursuing information from witnesses, contractors and the restaurant owner as part of a broader inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

As the community processes the tragedy, families are arranging to bring Shiva’s body home for burial. The GoFundMe campaign remains open to donations to assist with repatriation costs and other expenses related to the accident, reflecting the wide support from the Nepalese community and others in Australia.