Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Updated
Mangaluru, Nov 7: Inhalation of poisonous gas has been ascertained as the cause of deaths of three security men of Kotekar service cooperative bank on K C Road late night on Monday, November 6. The incident came to light on Tuesday November 7, and it was initially suspected that they may have died due to lightning strike.
Security guards of the bank Umesh (60), a resident of K C Road colony, Somanath (58), a resident of Kolya and Santhosh (40) of Manjanady were found dead on Tuesday morning.
They were on duty since Monday evening. The bank branch manager who came on duty in the morning saw the three men lying down, and assuming that they were sleeping, threw water on them. As none of them responded, it was confirmed that they were dead. The locals them informed the Ullal police station.
The shutter had been pulled down and bolted from the inside. It was broken in the presence of police, president and director for investigation. The three security guards had covered themselves with bed sheets, lying in different spots in the bank. There were no indications of the cause of their deaths. As the three men were lying on the floor, the likely cause was suspected to be lightning.
Investigations by forensics experts
A team led by Nitte University forensics division head Dr Mahabaleshwar Shetty which conducted investigations said that the men died due to inhalation of poisonous carbon monoxide gas. "There was no power at late night on Monday due to severe lightning, thunder, storm and rain. The three men who had slept after closing the windows were unable to sleep without fans. Therefore they started the generator. As they inhaled carbon monoxide emitted by the generator while they were asleep, they grew too weak and were unable to switch off the generator, which ultimately resulted in their death," said the doctors.
CCTV footage
The images in the CCTV show that the three men had eaten food together at around 8.30 pm. They were later talking to each other for about an hour, sitting on a bedsheet spread on the floor. They slept at around 9.30 pm and never got up. Though the CCTV and lights in the bank were on, the fans were not turning as those were not connected to the generator. Investigations have shown that they had started the generator to make the fans run, and then slept. It is therefore highly likely that they died due to suffocation.
Investigations under way: Commissioner
Police commissioner T Suresh said that investigations regarding the unnatural deaths are on, as there are no signs of anybody else's presence and nothing suspicious was found in the CCTV.
On June 23 this year, two men had entered this bank, tied tied up and gagged the now deceased guard Umesh in an attempt to rob 20 kg of gold worth Rs 5.5 crore. However, as the bank staff was alert they had thrown the gold and fled. The accused were later arrested.
Police commissioner T R Suresh, DCP Hanumantaraya, ACP K Ramarao, Ullal police inspector Gopikrishna and other police personnel conducted investigations and collected details.
K C Road colony resident Umesh (58) was working as security guard in the bank for the past eight years. He was a devotee of Ayyappa deity and often remained in Kotekar temple. He had come home on Monday evening and then gone to the bank at 7 pm on duty. He went to Sabarimala during the last three years and was supposed to go this year too. He is survived by two sons, Gangadhar and Sathish.
Somanatha (58) was working in a private security agency for the past one year. His own house at Kolya was acquired during widening of the road. He was staying with his relatives at Kasimbettu with the little money that he had got as compensation. His mother-in-law Devaki had died due to illness a week ago.
Somanath had been abroad before marriage, and after marriage began running an auto rickshaw at Beeri rickshaw park. He gave that up a year ago and started working as a security guard in the private agency. He leaves behind his wife and relatives.
Santhosh (42) leaves behind his wife and daughter. He had attended duty in the bank on Monday as requested by the agency. The agency then asked him to go to the bank's Deralakatte branch, but he could not due to incessant rain, thunder and lightning and had to remain in the bank.
Santosh had recently begun constructing a house near his wife's parental house. His wife Pushpa used to work as a tailor to supplement the income of her husband. Their daughter Yashaswini is a sixth standard student.