Senior PWD officer dies at table in south Mumbai restaurant

MUMBAI: The secretary of the state's public works department (PWD), Prashant Navghare, 57, collapsed and died as he was eating dinner at a popular seafood restaurant in Kala Ghoda Wednesday.
The autopsy was performed at JJ Hospital later that night. TOI has learnt that forensic experts have reserved the cause of death as there were no obvious signs. Doctors have preserved the viscera for histopathology. The hospital will send samples, including stomach wash, for chemical analysis, and checks for poisoning, to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina.
On Thursday afternoon, MRA Marg police collected CCTV footage from the restaurant where Navghare was dining with two friends. Police summoned shift manager Tapas Deb and waiter Deepak for inquiry.
Rajesh Pawar, senior inspector, said Navghare went to the hotel at 7.55pm Wednesday. He was seen itching in CCTV footage after which his friend left to buy medicine. At 8.42pm, hotel staff took Navghare to Bombay Hospital where he was declared dead before admission. "We have registered an accidental death case," added Pawar.
Police recorded statements of several hotel staffers. "Navghare's body was handed over to his family and they have taken it to Nagpur for the final rites," said Pawar.
Initially it was suspected that Navghare suffered a food allergy to prawns. Hotel manager Taranath Kuckian said, "It was my weekly off Wednesday. But I learnt that Navghare and two friends came and ordered Prawn Koliwada and Chicken Chilly which are the most popular starter and main course on the menu. But soon he began feeling uneasy, so he sent his friend to buy medicine from Apollo Pharmacy nearby. He took the tablet but collapsed within ten minutes. The waiters helped him up and put him in a taxi and his friends took him to hospital." Hotel staffers later learnt from police sources that the death occurred due to heart attack.
A senior state official who closely worked with Navghare said it was a "massive heart attack". "Although he had diabetes, he maintained fitness. In fact he played badminton that evening, a few hours before visiting the restaurant. He was yet to begin eating his food when he fell unconscious," he added, ruling out any food issue triggering the attack.
On another note, medical experts say seafood can indeed cause fatal allergies. Dr Wiqar Shaikh, Professor of Medicine at Grant Medical College, who is an allergy and asthma specialist, said, "Around 30% of India's population suffers some sort of allergy, and the cause is hereditary. Allergies are either hidden or manifest. Manifest is better since the patient can seek medical treatment. But a hidden allergy is worse. And seafood causes the severest of allergies. A person may get a cough and cold, or develop asthma, urticaria, angioedema that is swollen eyes, lips and face -- or anaphylaxis which can result in sudden death."