Four individuals died after reportedly inhaling toxic gas while they attempted to steal from a foreign-flagged ship stranded near Manori beach in Mumbai on Wednesday. According to police sources, the incident unfolded when a group of eight men reached the vessel in a speedboat two to three days prior to the incident. One individual remained aboard the boat while the others boarded the stranded ship.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the ship had been marooned for approximately four months due to adverse weather conditions. The trouble began when four members of the group entered an enclosed area of the ship and tried to cut a gas pipeline using a gas cutter. A sudden leak of toxic gas is thought to have led to them suffocating inside the vessel.

The situation came to light when one of their associates informed the Gorai police that four men were trapped inside. Following this report, the police alerted the merchant Navy and initiated a recovery operation. Search teams entered the vessel on Wednesday, assisted by naval personnel, and found the four bodies, which were subsequently transported to a local hospital for post-mortem examinations.

Investigation Insights

Authorities believe that the group had targeted the stranded vessel for theft for about a month. Reports indicate that the ship had been robbed twice previously. In the first theft, items worth approximately Rs 2.5 lakh were stolen, while the second incident saw losses estimated at Rs 5 lakh. The vessel had run aground around four months ago due to heavy rainfall and strong winds, remaining stranded off the Gorai-Manori coast since that time.

Police also informed that a case has been registered against the ship’s owner, who is currently abroad and has not yet been apprehended. The law enforcement agencies are focused on tracing the ship owner to discuss the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.

As part of their ongoing investigation, authorities are looking into various aspects, including the identities and roles of those involved as well as how the group accessed the ship. The area surrounding the ship has been described as dangerous due to its state, raising questions about how such access was possible.

Potential Connection to Illegal Activities

Further investigations are also exploring potential links between the ship and illegal oil-related activities prior to it running aground. While these allegations are currently being investigated, they have not been officially confirmed as of yet. Police are maintaining a cautious approach as they delve deeper into this angle.

The Gorai police have filed an accidental death report (ADR) and are focusing on understanding the circumstances that contributed to the fatalities. Determining the source of the alleged gas leak will be a crucial part of the inquiry. Authorities are hoping to acquire more information as post-mortem examinations of the deceased are conducted.

The exact cause of death will be confirmed only after the results of the post-mortem and a comprehensive investigation are completed. In the meantime, police are continuing their preliminary inquiries to provide a clearer picture of this tragic incident.

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