Sridevi’s death due to accidental drowning, embalming delayed till Tuesday: Updates

Dubai Media Office has confirmed that Sridevi’s death occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment’s bathtub following loss of consciousness.

bollywood Updated: Feb 26, 2018 21:01 IST
HT Correspondent
Veteran Bollywood actress Sridevi Kapoor, considered by many to be the first female superstar of Hindi cinema, died after suffering a heart attack in Dubai, her family told PTI on February 25, 2018.
Veteran Bollywood actress Sridevi Kapoor, considered by many to be the first female superstar of Hindi cinema, died after suffering a heart attack in Dubai, her family told PTI on February 25, 2018. (AFP)

Bollywood’s first female superstar, Sridevi, died in a Dubai hotel on February 24. Reports say that it was a case of accidental drowning.

Sridevi was in Dubai for her nephew Mohit Marwah’s wedding. She was joined by her younger daughter Khushi and Boney. Her husband flew back to India after the wedding on Wednesday and came back on Saturday to surprise his wife at the Emirates Towers Hotel, where she was staying. According to a report in The Times of India, the two chatted for 15 minutes before she went into the bathroom. Boney knocked on the door after 15 minutes but broke it down upon not getting a response.

Boney found Sridevi lying unconscious in the bathtub. He called a friend for help and reported the death to the police at 9pm. The report also said that while several media outlets are reporting cardiac arrest as the cause of her death, there has been no confirmation yet. However, Sanjay Kapoor, Sridevi’s actor brother-in-law, told Dubai’s Khaleej Times, “We are completely shocked. She had no history of a heart attack.”

An autopsy was conducted on late Sunday night and a chartered flight has flown to Dubai to bring her body back to India. Once back, her funeral will be held at Mumbai’s Pawan Hans in Juhu, Ville Parle.

Here are the LIVE updates:

9:00pm: As per Dubai-based news organisation Khaleej Times, late Sridevi’s body will not be embalmed today. The process of embalming is likely to take place by noon on Tuesday.

8:38pm: Actor Kamal Haasan, whose pairing with Sridevi, gave several hits in Tamil film industry, reached Anil Kapoor’s house. The Dubai police informed the Indian Embassy that another “clearance” was awaited before it could release the body of the actor. Indian envoy to the UAE, Navdeep Suri told PTI that they have been told that the Dubai police can release it only after receiving another “clearance”. Suri did not say what type of “clearance” was required. “It is their internal process. We do not know.”

8:12pm: Bollywood actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh reached Anil Kapoor’s residence in Mumbai to pay their respect to late Sridevi. The mortal remans of Sridevi are yet to be brought back to India.

8:04pm: Actor Shakti Kapoor, who has worked with late actor Sridevi in many films, said, “The saddest part was that she couldn’t see her daughter (Jhanvi)’s debut film. My heart goes to entire family. I don’t have much info about news of her drowning. I heard she fell into bathtub following a cardiac arrest. I am very sad.”

7:42pm: Fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who worked closely with Sridevi on many projects, remembered the actor when he visited Anil Kapoor’s residence earlier in the day. “Sridevi and I first met in 1990 when she was already a superstar and I was beginning my career. Working with an icon I always called ‘Ma’am’ was a turning point in my career, as it was the beginning of many associations and a longstanding friendship beyond work,” Manish said in a statement.

7:29pm: It’s still uncertain when Sridevi’s mortal remains will be brought back to India. Earlier in the day, celebs like Venkatesh Daggubati, Tabu and Rekha visited Boney Kapoor’s brother Anil Kapoor’s house to console the grieving family.

Photo: IANS

6:47pm: ANI has quoted a source saying that there is a delay likely to happen in the return of mortal remains of Sridevi. Dubai police which earlier gave clearance now awaits clearance from prosecution magistrate .Police reportedly informed Indian authorities the body can only be handed over after nod from prosecution magistrate.

6:27pm: Khaleej Times reports that Sridevi’s family is awaiting the release of the actor’s body from the public prosecutor’s office. However, authorities say that chances seem thin that it will be done today, said the report.

6:12pm: Throughout the day, Bollywood celebrities visited the house of Boney Kaporo and his brother Anil Kapoor’s house. Filmmaker Karan Johar, actor Ameesha Patel and designer Maneesh Malhotra were among those who visited the grieving family.

Photo: IANS

5:58pm: As per reports, Sridevi’s body will be flown back to India by midnight after completing the necessary procedure in Dubai. It will be kept for public ‘drashan’ till 11am tomorrow at the recreational club near Boney Kapoor’s Versova house. After that, it will be taken to Pawan Hans Crematorium.

5:20pm: In tweets, Dubai Media Office has confirmed that Sridevi’s death occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment’s bathtub following loss of consciousness. Dubai Police transferred the case to Dubai Public Prosecution, which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases. A chief prosecutor told Gulf News, “In such accidental death incidents, the results of the post-mortem and forensic examination reports are referred to the Public Prosecution as part of ordinary law enforcement procedures. The papers are revised by the prosecutors of the jurisdiction where the incident happened. An official order to hand over the body of the deceased to the family or relatives is issued shortly after that.”

5.05pm: Khaleej Times reports Sridevi did not suffer a cardiac arrest. The publication said that accidental drowning was the probable cause of the actor’s death. Gulf News reports that her body has been taken for embalming. Sridevi’s body will be flown to India after that.

4.25pm: Forensic reports reveal Sridevi died due to accidental drowning, as per a report in Gulf News.It was earlier reported that husband Boney Kapoor had found her dead in a bathtub in their hotel room in Dubai. An India Today report says traces of alcohol were also found in the body.

4.10pm: Boney Kapoor’s daughter Anshula spotted leaving Anil Kapoor’s residence.

Boney Kapoor’s daughter Anshula at Anil Kapoor’s residence. (HT Photo)

3.45pm: Dubai Police release forensic report of Sridevi to her family and the Indian consulate, according to a report in Gulf News.

3.30pm: Actors Sarika and her daughters Akshara and Shruti Haasan arrive at Anil Kapoor’s residence.

Saiyammi Kher arrives at Anil Kapoor’s residence.

3.15pm: Khaleej Times has reported the forensic report will be issued after two hours.

3.07pm: Among those who reached Anil Kapoor’s residence to pay condolences are Krishna Raj Kapoor and south Indian actor Nasser. Actor Kamal Haasan is also expected to reach Mumbai soon. Haasan, who acted in over 20 films with Sridevi had issued a video messages saying that Sridevi was committed to her work and her stardom was no accident.

2.58pm: Dubai authorities have said all formalities will be completed by 3.30pm and a death certificate will also be issued, according to Indian consulate officials. A relative of the family, Saurabh Malhotra, has left the premises with the Indian consulate official and has been asked to return in half an hour.

2.44pm: Madhuri Dixit reachesAnil Kapoor’s residence to pay her last respects to Sridevi. The actor had said on Sunday, “This is saddening and shocking news. Sridevi was an extremely talented and versatile performer who was a treat to watch right through her career. We have truly lost one of our most precious gems. She had the ability of creating a place in people’s hearts through her performances and has, in so many ways, been an inspiration for many. I fondly remember meeting her when she shot with us for one of the episodes of Jhalak Dikhla Ja. We danced together and really had a lot of fun. It Certainly will be a moment I’ll cherish forever. My love, wishes and prayers to her entire family.”

2.30pm: Khaleej Times reports that an official from the Indian consulate has been called inside the morgue with a family member.

2.00pm: Sridevi’s co-star from Mom, Sajal Ali, has recounted her experience with the actor. “She was like my mother. I am in a state of shock right now… It feels like losing my mother again,” Sajal said about Sridevi. Read full story here.

1.47pm: Times of India report says forensic report confirms heart attack as the cause of Sridevi’s death. Official sources in Dubai say there was ‘nothing suspicious’ about the manner of her death. A second autopsy, as suggested by reports earlier, has been ruled out. However, nothing has been said officially as of now.

1.44pm: Khaleej Times reports Sridevi’s body is still in the morgue and ‘several hours away from repatriation.’

1.36pm: According to a report , in Gulf Times, more delay should be expected in bring Sridevi’s body back to Mumbai. Because her post-mortem report came out inconclusive, a toxicology report demanded by Dubai’s forensic dept. The body will be released only when a blood report is submitted to the Dubai police.Further investigations will be done if the toxicology results are also inconclusive.

1.23pm: Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra arrive at the residence of Anil Kapoor in Mumbai. They had visited Anil’s home on Sunday night as well.

1.10pm: Jaya Prada spoke about how warm their relationship was and how it was Sridevi’s dream to see daughter Janhvi Kapoor make her debut on the big screen. Read full story here.

1.00pm: Ekta Kapoor is being trolled for her tweet on Sridevi’s death. “The strongest women have the weakest hearts sometimes...#RIPSrideviji,” she had tweeted. Her followers found the tweet insensitive due to which, the producer had to tweet a clarification. “Evil ones pls realise one percent ( as fwded as my doc told me) of the population can have an cardiac arrest without any heart condition or any kind of surgery ! It’s destiny not how evil rumour mongers portray!!!,” she wrote.

12.25pm: Karan Johar tweets about Sridevi’s death. “The unpredictability of life only hits us in times of tragedy ...then soon after we go back to being petulant and full of ourselves....I hope we can take stock of the eventualities of life and death and then rise above our own insecurities,” he wrote.

Shabana Azmi tweeted that she will cancel her Holi party as a mark of respect towards Sridevi. “Our Holi party at Janki Kurir stands cancelled on 2nd March in the wake of Sridevis passing away,” she tweeted.

12.23pm: The forensics department is yet to submit blood test results to Dubai Police, a mandatory requirement to release the body. The results are expected to be filed in the next couple of hours, reports Khaleej Times.

12.21pm: Choreographer Saroj Khan arrives at Anil Kapoor’s residence. “I still can’t believe it. We can’t believe it. We all loved her. I can’t say anything else,” she said.

12.15pm: Several procedures need to be completed before Sridevi’s body can be sent back to India. Read them here.

11.30am: Dipti Naval, Farah Khan and Farhan Akhtar with his mother Honey Irani arrive at Anil Kapoor’s residence.

11.29am: Sridevi’s body scheduled to arrive in Mumbai at 4.30pm (IST).

11.03am: Rajinikanth arrives in Mumbai for Sridevi’s funeral. He had tweeted his condolences on her death on Sunday. “I’m shocked and very disturbed. I’ve lost a dear friend and the industry has lost a true legend. My heart goes out to her family and friends. I feel the pain with them #RIPSridevi... you will be missed,” he had tweeted.

10.40am: Officials from Indian consulate and Sridevi’s family have told Khaleej Times that her body will be ready for repatriation with all the procedures completed by 1 to 2pm, Dubai time (3.30pm IST). After receiving the police clearance and forensic report, the other procedures including, immigration and embalming would be completed in the next 3 to 4 hours.

10.14am: Rajinikanth and several stars from the Telugu film industry are expected to attend the funeral, reports Times of India. Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, and Venkatesh, Bharathiraaja, K Raghavendra Rao, Ambareesh and Prakash Raj are likely to attend.

10.04am: Sridevi’s body is still at Dubai Police’s Forensic department on Monday morning, as per a report in Khaleej Times. Her last rites might not take place at 11 am as was earlier reported by media outlets.

9.33am: Visuals from outside Sridevi’s home in Mumbai.

9.30am: Anil Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor arrive back in Mumbai for Sridevi’s funeral on Sunday night.

9.22am: A Mumbai airport official tells HT that the chartered flight has not left for Mumbai yet.

9.19 am: Mumbai Police tweeted a video clip of Sridevi’s performance at their annual celebration Umang. The 21-second video shows her wearing an off-white sequinned ghagra choli, dancing to the hit number from English Vinglish, Navrai Majhi Ladachi Ladachi Ga.

Read our full story here.

8.00am: #Sridevi will always remain alive in my memory. It feels awkward to speak of her in the past tense. We have lost the biggest star of our country. I still cannot believe it. It will take many years to register what has actually happened: Anupam Kher in Mumbai

10.02 pm, Feb 26: Sridevi’s body could not be repatriated on Sunday as the final investigation reports from Dubai Police were not ready by late evening, officials dealing with the legal formalities were quoted by a Khaleej Times report.

Officials also said that as per usual protocols, these tests take up to 24 hours in the case a person has died outside a hospital in Dubai. The same safety and administrative protocols are being followed by the police in this case as well.

10:00pm, Feb 26: UAE officials have revealed that Sridevi’s autopsy has been completed and the family is now awaiting laboratory reports conducted by the General Department of Forensic Evidence, Dubai, Khaleej Times reported.

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