Another armed forces personnel found dead in hospital

A sailor was found dead on Thursday afternoon at Naval Hospital, Mumbai. Sources said he had been unwell since September and was admitted to INHS Asvini. Owing to his illness, he was depressed as well, they said.

The local police station has been informed about his death and Western Naval Command has ordered an internal inquiry into the incident. The police has also started inquiry and all possible causes of death, including suicide, are being investigated. The sailor is survived by his wife and two children.

Sources from the Navy said that on Thursday at around 12.30pm, naval sailor Ramesh Babu, who was posted in Western Naval Command as chief writer, was found lying in a pool of blood at the ground floor of INHS Asvini. Nursing staff stumbled upon him and informed the doctors. Upon examining him, doctors pronounced him dead.

In his statement to naval officials, a hospital staff has informed that Mr Babu was last seen entering the bathroom of his ward on the fifth floor but as of now, no conclusion has been drawn about the circumstances under which Mr Babu died.

A doctor from INHS Asvini who did not wish to be named, said, -"Mr Babu was admitted to the hospital since September. The sailor was diagnosed with Huntington's Chorea disease, which is a chronic neuro-degenerative disorder. In addition to continuous reduction in mental abilities, the debilitating disease causes involuntary movements in the body for the remaining lifespan of the affected individual.-"

This is the second incident in the last 20 days when an armed forces personnel has been found dead in INHS Asvini. Earlier at about 8.30am on November 21, in an empty room in INHS Asvini, Army recruit Jasbir Singh (22) was found hanging from the ceiling. INHS Asvini doctors rushed to the room and checked Mr Singh after which, civil police was informed. The Cuffe Parade police is now investigating the case of possible suicide.