GDN:Burns horror worker loses fight for life

Burns horror worker loses fight for life
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 9th December 2006

Indian garage worker Gurdeep Singh, burnt in a horrific incident at his Sehla work place on November 20, died yesterday.

The 35-year old bachelor, from Gurdaspur, Punjab, suffered a massive heart attack at around 4pm and died soon after, said doctors at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).

“His blood pressure dropped suddenly,” they said.

Mr Singh had suffered 55 per cent burns on his face, chest and legs in the incident and had not been responding to treatment since he was admitted.

Mr Singh, who arrived in Bahrain on August 2003, was working in a car repair pit at the garage when dripping petrol from a mini bus ignited and set him on fire. He emerged from the pit in a ball of fire and was assisted by a colleague, Jinder Pal, who helped douse the flames and called the sponsor. He was taken to the SMC in a critical condition.

Burns horror worker loses fight for life
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 9th December 2006

Indian garage worker Gurdeep Singh, burnt in a horrific incident at his Sehla work place on November 20, died yesterday.

The 35-year old bachelor, from Gurdaspur, Punjab, suffered a massive heart attack at around 4pm and died soon after, said doctors at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).

“His blood pressure dropped suddenly,” they said.

Mr Singh had suffered 55 per cent burns on his face, chest and legs in the incident and had not been responding to treatment since he was admitted.

Mr Singh, who arrived in Bahrain on August 2003, was working in a car repair pit at the garage when dripping petrol from a mini bus ignited and set him on fire. He emerged from the pit in a ball of fire and was assisted by a colleague, Jinder Pal, who helped douse the flames and called the sponsor. He was taken to the SMC in a critical condition.

Mr Singh’s elder brother, Devinder Singh, 40, who also works in Bahrain, said yesterday he had tried contacting Gurdeep’s sponsor several times over the last few days without success.

“The hospital authorities had also been calling the sponsor for Gurdeep’s CPR.” He alleged that his brother, who was paid BD60 every month, had never seen his passport with the residence permit stamp or his CPR ever since he came to Bahrain.

Mr Devinder Singh also alleged his brother always received his salary irregularly and had not been paid for the last three months. He said his brother was also being treated at the SMC on a temporary CPR. Hospital officials confirmed this. He said he had still not informed his aged parents about the incident. “I was hoping Gurdeep would recover soon to be able to speak to them.”

He said earlier his parents had been calling Gurdeep and when he failed to answer, they called him instead. “I told them Gurdeep had lost his mobile. What will I tell them now?”

Mr Devinder said his brother dreamt of making enough money to get married. “That is why he paid a large amount of money to get to Bahrain,” he said. “Whatever he was paid he gave it to me and I sent it to parents and my wife and children.”

Meanwhile, Mr Pal, who still remains in hiding after he was threatened by the sponsor for having spoken to GDN came to bade farewell to his colleague. A resident of Gurdaspur, who had come to Bahrain along with Gurdeep, said “I am shattered. I hope things work well for his family and they do not suffer.”

Indian embassy officials confirmed they would ensure all possible action against the sponsor. “He is duty bound to complete all formalities as soon as possible so that Gurdeep’s body can be repatriated.”

The officials said Labour Ministry officials would also be involved in the process.

© Gulf Daily News