Indian youth dies of heat stroke

Dubai, Aug 17 (UNI) A 20-year old Indian sailor, who arrived in UAE only two days ago, died in a hospital following severe heat stroke.

Swaranjith Singh, hailing from Chandigarh, was working on MV Nancy, a vessel currently docked in the Sharjah creek.

His fellow sailors alleged that the ship supervisor forced him to work under the sun even after he complained of being sick. He was not taken to the hospital after falling unconscious on the deck, they added.

But later at night when Swaranjith's condition deteriorated, he was rushed to the hospital where doctors confirmed his death due to heat stroke.

Singh's brother told Khaleej Times that Swaranjith left for Dubai through an agent in Mumbai who charged him Dh17,000.

An official from Kasab Shipping Company, which owns the vessel said they had informed the agent in Mumbai about the sailor's death and denied having charged money from job seekers.

The Mission to Seafarers in the UAE, which appealed to the authorities to send the body back home as early as possible said it was not sure the vessel was insured with P&I (Protection and Indemnity) insurance so the family would receive the insurance claim.

UNI XC SHB RN1555