DUBAI: While the Indian media reported Sridevi died of a massive heart attack, UAE authorities on Monday confirmed the cause of her death to be, accidental drowning following a loss of consciousness.
Dubai police said that initial investigation showed traces of alcohol in her body and this may have led to the accident. ” The investigation is still going on to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident as the forensic report only says that she drowned,” told an official to Gulf News.
Sources also added that the Dubai Police had released the forensic report on Sridevi’s death to her family as well as the Indian Consulate representative.
The case has currently been referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution, and the next step regarding the issue of repatriation has been left open-ended. India’s Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri added that the Indian Embassy is in talks with the Dubai authorities to get clearance and is hopeful that it will “happen soon”.
Dubai Police has transferred the case to #Dubai Public Prosecution, which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases. #Sridevi https://t.co/vYS1il1E7T pic.twitter.com/CY9JckDHuT
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 26, 2018
Any criminal suspicion in the icon’s sudden death has been ruled out.
Her body is expected to be flown back to India later today; it could not be repatriated on Sunday as the final investigation reports from the Dubai Police were not ready by late evening, as quoted by Khaleej Times dealing with officials concerned with the legal formalities.
The actress and Bollywood icon, aged 55, reportedly had a fainting spell in her bathroom and was immediately rushed to Rashid Hospital in Dubai, where she was declared dead on arrival.