Kurar police station senior inspector Gaikwad dies of heart attack in car on way to duty

Another Mumbai Police officer has died suddenly while on duty, plunging the force into mourning. Sushil Kumar Gaikwad, senior inspector at Kurar police station, died in his vehicle while travelling from home to work.

According to information available, Gaikwad had celebrated the birthday of DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) Gajanan Rajmane in the evening a day earlier. He then went to his home in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai. The next morning he left home for Kurar police station, but a severe heart attack claimed his life before he reached it.

On the way, Gaikwad began to feel uneasy. He told the driver and the operator travelling with him that he was not feeling well. He said he would rest in the vehicle for a while and asked for a pillow. He then fell asleep in the vehicle.

When the vehicle reached Kurar police station, the driver called out to him, but he did not wake up. The driver tried to rouse him by shaking him. It was then discovered that his body had turned completely cold and there was froth at his mouth. The driver and the operator rushed him to DNA Hospital at Pathanwadi in Malad. Doctors declared him dead before treatment could begin.

Earlier this month, Senior Inspector Shivaji Jadhav also died in a similar tragic manner. Two senior inspectors have thus died in a single month, causing alarm in the police force. Both officers had been promoted from police inspector to senior inspector only about seven months ago.

It is being said in police circles that work stress and pressure from senior officers led to the heart attack. It is said that, besides law and order, officers are constantly pressed for work relating to hawkers in the area, Waghri, SRA, MMRDA, the forest department and other matters, and many of them work under stress. There is also said to be considerable resentment within the force against senior officers.

The deaths of police officers at such a young age have once again raised questions about their working hours, leave and health problems.