MAPUSA
A 32-year-old man from Maharashtra was found dead in Morjim in the early hours of Monday, prompting police to register a case of unnatural death even as the circumstances surrounding his sudden demise raise questions about possible substance consumption during a party outing.
According to police, a male identified as Vikram Barkade (32), a resident of Malkapur, Satara district, Maharashtra, was brought dead at the primary health centre in Siolim.
Preliminary enquiry revealed that Barkade, along with a group of friends, had gone partying in Anjuna earlier in the night. After returning from the party, the deceased reportedly began complaining of breathlessness and chest pain.
His friends initially took him to their rented room in Morjim, where his condition deteriorated and he soon became unconscious. He was subsequently rushed to PHC Siolim, where doctors declared him brought dead on arrival.
Police have stated that no foul play is suspected at this stage. The body has been sent for preservation at the Goa Medical College (GMC) morgue in Bambolim for further medico-legal formalities. An unnatural death (UD) case has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
While officials have not confirmed any specific cause of death, the age of the deceased and the fact that he had attended a party shortly before his collapse have brought focus on the possibility of substance or drug consumption.
Police sources said that this angle cannot be ruled out and will be examined as part of the investigation, pending post-mortem and toxicology reports. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of death.
