Ishmeet's death due to drowning: report

Ludhiana, Jul 31 (UNI) The death of Star 'Voice of India' contest winner, Ishmeet Singh, in the Maldives on Tuesday evening, was due to drowning, according to a post-mortem report.

''The cause of death was not due to any injuries but due to drowning'', Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Harvinder Singh of the local Civil Hospital said after a team of three doctors had carried out a post-mortem on the body of Ishmeet today.

The post-mortem was conducted by Dr Jasbir Singh, Dr Suresh Kaushal and Dr J S Sanan at the Civil Hospital. They presented their preliminary findings to the SMO which indicated presence of water in the lungs, stomach and other body parts.

In the report, the doctors noted that the injuries on the head and forehead could not have caused the death as these were of a very minor nature. The detailed report will be presented later in the day or tomorrow to the SMO.

The post-mortem was carried out on the demand of the family members of Ishmeet, who alleged that the death could not have occurred due to drowning and that there was some foul play. The body of the singer was flown from New Delhi by a charter aircraft hired by the Punjab Government last night.

The body arrived in the national capital yesterday evening by charter plane from Male and from there it was brought here.

The 19-year-old budding singer, drowned in the swimming pool at hotel Chaaya Island Dhonveli in North Male on Tuesday evening.

After the post-mortem, the body of the singer was taken in a procession to a local gurdwara and then to his Shastri Nagar residence on Pakhowal road. The last rites will be performed in the evening at the Model Town Extension cremation ground.

The Punjab Government has already announced a state funeral for the singer, who had become immensely popular after winning the television contest.

Ishmeet had gone to the Maldives for a concert sponsored by an event management company. His father and mother Amritpal Kaur were informed by the event management company about the tragedy on Tuesday night.

UNI XC HS BDP BST1307