Background: - The deaths due to asphyxia are so wide & varied that they are challenging the postmortem surgeon on many occasions, therefore careful study & a meticulous examination of every case is mandatory to bring the wide variety of observations in death by asphyxia. Aim: To evaluate the incidence and pattern of violent asphyxial deaths in a rural area where majority of the population are farmers and sugar factory workers. Methodology: The data on socioeconomic status, type of asphyxia, manner of death, etc were collected retrospectively from the department of forensic medicine of Rural Medical College, Loni, Tal- Rahata Dist Ahmednagar Maharashtra for a period of 5 yrs. The information recorded from hospital case records, P.M. reports, police inquest reports and history from relatives. Results: Total 917 autopsies were conducted during this period among 68 cases were of violent asphyxial deaths. The males were preponderant (73.53%). Majority of cases were of drowning (73.53%) followed by hanging (20.59%), strangulation (2.94%) & traumatic asphyxial (2.94 %). Majority of cases were suicidal in nature.

Key words: violent ashyxial deaths, hanging, strangulation, drowning, suffocation