Sri Lankan Crew Member's Body Recovered from Hooghly River in Kolkata
In a tragic maritime incident, the body of a Sri Lankan crew member was recovered from the Hooghly River in Kolkata on Friday evening. The victim, identified as Bandarawatte Vidanelage Prabashwara Tharindu Bandarawatte, was employed on the Singapore-bound container vessel Kota Dunia. Authorities suspect the death may be a case of suicide, with investigations ongoing in coordination with the Sri Lankan Embassy.
Details of the Incident and Search Operation
The incident unfolded late Thursday night when the West Port Police Station received information around 11:26 PM. According to Deputy Commissioner (Port) Harikrishna Pai, the crew member allegedly jumped into the river near the Netaji Subhas Dock area. The vessel, which was en route from Singapore via Chittagong, was stationed mid-stream and had not yet berthed at the time of the incident.
"As soon as other crew members spotted him jumping into the river, the captain immediately informed the Port Traffic department and requested urgent assistance," stated DC Pai. The response was swift, with two tugboats from the Port Marine department launching search operations in the surrounding waters. Despite these efforts, the crew member could not be located during the initial search phase.
Intensive Search Efforts Lead to Recovery
Search operations intensified with the deployment of a Disaster Management Group team, which included five expert divers, coordinated through OC Control at Lalbazar. Port divers were also engaged to comb the nearby waters. The exhaustive search continued for several hours, ultimately leading to the recovery of the body around 5:05 PM on Friday evening.
A port division police officer confirmed the recovery, noting the challenging conditions of the search. Police have not released specific details regarding the exact location of recovery or the condition of the body at the time it was found. Authorities have indicated that further comments will be made only after the post-mortem examination is completed and the exact cause of death is ascertained.
Investigation and Diplomatic Coordination
Police are treating the case with caution, fearing that the victim might have died by suicide. In a proactive move, they have contacted the Sri Lankan Embassy to ascertain whether the family wishes to lodge any formal complaint. This step underscores the international dimensions of the incident, involving diplomatic channels to ensure proper procedures are followed.
The preliminary information points to a distressing scenario aboard the Kota Dunia vessel, highlighting the pressures and challenges faced by maritime crew members. As the investigation progresses, authorities are focused on gathering all relevant facts to determine the circumstances leading to this tragic event.
The recovery of the body marks a somber conclusion to the search efforts, but many questions remain unanswered. The post-mortem report is eagerly awaited to provide clarity on the cause of death, which will be crucial for both the investigation and any potential legal or diplomatic actions.
