VASCO: The viscera of Chief Engineering Mechanic Ashu Singh have been preserved to ascertain the exact cause of death. The doctors who performed the autopsy on his body have reserved their opinion on the cause of death. After conducting the autopsy, the body was handed over to the naval officials at INS Gomantak on Monday.
It may be recalled that the naval officer, was supervising a fire-extinguish operation, sustained injuries and died after a fire suddenly broke out in the boiler room of INS Viraat on Sunday.
Police investigation revealed that as soon as the fire broke out in the boiler room at 3.45 pm, Singh and four other crew members rushed to subdue the flames. But due to excessive inhalation of smoke, Singh got trapped in the room. His absence went unnoticed by other four members, who left the boiler room. After they discovered that Singh had been trapped inside, they again went inside and found him lying unconscious on the floor.
He was dragged out by the crew, who also sustained injuries in the process. The injured persons were immediately shifted to the naval hospital INHS Jeevanti in Vasco, where Singh died while undergoing treatment.
Incidentally, on the same day, the Navy had celebrated ‘Family Day’ on INS Viraat. Family members of navy personnel were taken onboard to explore the aircraft carrier, which is supposed to be decommissioned in October this year.
Meanwhile, Mormugao police have registered the case as unnatural death.
On Monday evening, a police team, including DySP Suchita Dessai and Investigating Officer Rishikesh Patil conducted the panchanama onboard the ship. It is also learnt that the other injured members who were undergoing treatment at INHS Jeevanti were discharged on Monday. Mormugao Police is further investigating into the case.
According to the Vasco DySP Suchita Desai, the boiler room where the incident took place is very congested with hardly any space to move. She also informed that Ashu Singh was not present inside the boiler room when the fire broke out. “I inspected the site and it was brought to my notice that the boiler room which is located at 9th deck(right bottom) of the ship usually has excessive heat. However, on the incident day the boiler room had over 90 degree temperature as the ship had just arrived after a sortie. Thus the moment the four crew members noticed the minor fire they immediately doused the same.
All four crew members however felt dizzy and suffocation so they came out from the boiler room. At that time Ashu Singh was not present and Ashu joined duty only at 4 pm and as the in-charge of boiler room he personally went to check the situation in the boiler room. As there was still smoke and fumes inside the room and Ashu fell unconscious and fell on the floor.
He was therefore rushed first to the clinic onboard the ship and then to Jeevanti Hospital where while undergoing treatment Ashu suffered a cardiac arrest, the doctors present managed to revive him. However, within few minutes Ashu suffered a second cardiac arrest and expired”, she told Herald.
