Ex-Army official dies after consuming huge liquor

Chennai, Jan 26 (UNI) A 53-year-old retired official of the British Army died in his room in a tourism vessel M V ARITIMIS at Chennai Port yesterday, police today said.

The tourist luxury ship carrying 1,106 foreign tourists left for London on December 2, 2006 for their world tourism mission.

After visiting several countries, they reached here yesterday from Thailand. When the ship was about to leave for Cochin after refuelling, the crew noticed that Joseph Thomas Calvert's room was not opened for a long time.

Later, when the ship authorities opened the room in presence of the local police they found Joseph Thomas lying dead on his bed.

Police suspect he must have expired after consuming liquor. The body was removed to Government Stanely Hospital for post-mortem and his relatives in England were informed, accordingly, police said.

After the completion of the routine formalities, the ship left for Cochin with other tourists last night, police added.

UNI