An Indian cadet died in an accidental fall on MSC Damla |

In a tragic incident, a 19-year-old from Lucknow died on board a merchant ship in Brussels, plunging the family in deep sorrow. From what it appears, Kshitij Singh Bisht had an accidental fall in the vessel MSC Damla belonging to the Mediterranean Shipping Company.The incident occurred on March 28, while the 2002-built Post-Panamax boxship was in Antwerp, Belgium for routine operations.

Media reports cited Belgian officials as saying that the Indian national slipped and fell some 16 meters from narrow metal stairs into the containership’s hold. An investigation into the incident was launched.

Kshitji Singh Bisht who was born on June 4, 1997 was thrilled about his entry into the ship. “He called me and said how happy he was. But now suddenly, we are informed about his death in just a few days,” Sagar Singh Bisht said.

A day before joining the ship, Kshitij uploaded a picture from London on a social networking site with the caption, “Wow!!!! What an awesome place it is, London you beauty. Feeling refreshed”

What is troubling the family is that the company is not even giving complete information about how Kshitji died. His body was found in the cargo of the ship on March 24, some hours after he had gone into the cargo area of the ship.The family had tweeted to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj about the incident and she had responded. Following this, the Indian embassy in Belgium is helping the family get back the body to India.

Kshitji had done his first year of college at Training Ship Rehman, Panvel, Mumbai and had to do an 18-months on board training . He was sponsored cadet for the Mediterranean Shipping Company which also has India offices. He was to become 3rd Navigating Officer after his training for MSC .He was a trainee for the Mediterranean Shipping Company in the ship at Brussels. According to Sagar, Kshitji had left for London on March 24, and was on board the ship in Brussels only two or three days before he died on board.

Some say ” may be it’s a case of expecting too much too early from a cadet”

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