Death due to car malfunction: Cops

Mumbai: The 30-year-old lawyer who suffocated to death on Tuesday after getting stuck in his Santro near King’s Circle could not get out of the car as the central locking system had stopped working during the heavy downpour the city witnessed that day, police sources have revealed.

The malfunction happened allegedly due to the fact that the Engine Control Module (ECM) box was immersed in water. As the central locking system was jammed, the lawyer, identified only as Priyen could not get out. Sources in the hospital confirmed that the cause of death has been reported as suffocation. He lived with his parents in Highway Apartment in Sion Circle.

In the July 26 2005 flood, around 16 deaths were reported due to the vehicles that were trapped in flooded areas, with occupants dying due to suffocation.

Most of these deaths happened because the people thought they would be safer in their cars, which proved fatal ultimately.

Priyen, who was carrying a duffle bag and was seated in his Santro with the seatbelt on had no signs of struggle on his body and during the investigation it was revealed that there was no forced entry into the vehicle, said a police source. When contacted, the doctors of the civic-run Sion Hospital, they said that the cause of death according to the post-mortem reports show suffocation. Sources at Sion police station, who are investigating the case said that the accidental death report was filed.

Among the bodies found in the flooded parts of the city was 28-year-old Rohit Saga’s, who was reported missing on Tuesday after he went to Marve beach in Malad to immerse a Ganpati idol. His body was washed ashore at noon on Thursday.

The body of 29-year-old Deepali Bansode was found in Vitava creek at Thane, a day after she was reported missing. Bansode had left her workplace to reach home in the heavy downpour, but drowned due to the strong currents.

An unidentified female corpse was also found in Kalva Creek on Thursday in a decomposed condition.