Drunk NRI Falls to Death from Terrace Garden of Delhi Hotel

An NRI staying at the Taj Mansingh Hotel in New Delhi died after falling from the second floor terrace garden of Taj Mansingh Hotel in Delhi on Nov. 7. According to reports, there is no foul play in his death and it appears the man was apparently drunk when he fell to his death.

The person has been identified as Narendra Mangalam, 48, of Maryland, U.S.A. According to a Hindustan Times report, the incident reportedly occurred almost 10 hours after he checked into the hotel after flying into the city from the U.S.

According to the police, Mangalam was drunk and was looking for a place to urinate when he went to the terrace garden and ‘accidentally’ fell from one of the corners on the back of the lawn around noon and close to the swimming pool. The hotel staff spotted him in an injured condition around 11.30 pm — almost 12 hours after the incident, the Hindustan Times reported.

The police have ruled out any foul play and said CCTV footage shows the man alone on the terrace garden when he fell. The police found his earphones on the overhang below the terrace garden. Police suspect Mangalam was trying to stop his earphones from slipping off his hands when he lost his balance and fell to his death, Hindustan Times reported.

“There has been an unfortunate incident and we extend our deep condolences to the family. We are cooperating with the authorities and extending our full support,” read a statement issued by a spokesperson on behalf of the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL).

The newspaper said an electrician at the hotel was going to check the electric channel when he found Mangalam lying injured and unconscious on the ground and soon informed the hotel’s security staff, who, in turn, informed police about the incident. The injured man was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

“There is no eyewitness to the incident. We scanned the footage of several cameras but except Narendra, nobody is seen entering the terrace garden half an hour before or after the incident. No case has been registered. An inquest proceeding under section 174 of CrPC has been initiated,” Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma said.

According to the police, Mangalam had checked into the hotel around 2 am on Nov. 7, although he had booked a room from Nov. 6.

“The footage shows Narendra taking the staircase to come down. He reached the second floor where the staircase ended. His moved hinted that he was urgently looking for a bathroom to urinate. Narendra then tried using the lift, but since it was busy he did not wait for it. He is then seen going towards the terrace garden,” the paper quoted a police officer as saying.

Mangalam lived in the U.S. with his wife while his mother and other relatives live in Bangalore, police said.