There have been several high-profile deaths of Indian scientists, particularly from the space and nuclear fields, which have attracted attention due to their mysterious or sudden nature. However, while some of these cases involve speculation about foul play, many have been officially attributed to accidents or natural causes.
It should be noted here that each one of these individuals was connected to an Indian institution having access to sensitive materials.
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Homi J. Bhabha
(1909–1966)
Field: Nuclear Physics
Known for: Father of the Indian nuclear program
Death: Bhabha died in a plane crash near Mont Blanc, Switzerland, in 1966. There have been conspiracy theories about his death, alleging sabotage, as it happened at a critical time in India's nuclear program. He was 56.
Vikram Sarabhai
(1919–1971)
Field: Space Science
Known for: Father of the Indian space program, founder of ISRO
Death: Sarabhai was found dead in his hotel room at his favourite resort on Kovalam beach after he had witnessed firing of a Russian rocket and inaugurated Thumba railway station to retire for the night. in Kovalam, Kerala, on 30th Dec 1971. Official reports indicated natural causes (heart attack), but the timing and circumstances have led to speculation about possible foul play. Kamla Chaudhary, a close associate of Vikrambhai at IIM-A is quoted saying, "Vikram had told me that he was being watched by both Americans and Russians." He was only 52.
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Lokanathan Mahalingam
(1949–2009)
Field: Nuclear Science
Known for: Scientist at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station
Death: Mahalingam's body was found in a river, five days after he went missing in 2009. The circumstances were mysterious, and his death raised concerns, though the official explanation was suicide. He was the senior scientific officer at the Training Centre of the Kaiga Atomic Energy Station, 600 km north west of Bangalore run by India's the Nuclear Power Corporation Limited (NPCL). Officially it was stated that he had no "access to sensitive documents”. He was only 48.
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S. Ravi Balu
(1960s–2011)
Field: Aerospace Engineering
Known for: Worked at the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bangalore
Death: Balu was hit by a motorcycle and died shortly after in 2011. There were rumors linking his work with a UAV project to his sudden death.
Uma Narsimha Rao
(1940s–2011)
Field: Atomic Energy
Known for: Worked at the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL)
Death: In April 2011, former scientist and Head of Women Scientists Association of India, Dr Uma Narasimha Rao, was found dead at her residence near a BARC Campus. Based on a note left next to her bed, the police concluded that it was suicide. Deeming the probe unsatisfactory, her family members contest the verdict. She was 63.
Dr. Suresh Shah and Dr. Harishankar Kashyap (Dr. Vikram Sarabhai’s close associates)
Both passed away in accidents or under mysterious circumstances in the early stages of India's space and nuclear programs. Though details are sparse, their deaths added to the list of unexplained incidents involving key scientists.
Mahadevan P. Iyer
(unknown–2010)
Field: Nuclear Science
Known for: Worked at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Death: In February 2010, Mahadevan Padmanabhan Iyer, a mechanical engineer at BARC's Reactor Development and Design Division, was found dead at his residence in South Mumbai. He was found lying on his bed with a rope tied around his neck; the killer had used a duplicate key to enter the house and strangle Mahadevan in his sleep. He was also hit on his head with a blunt object. Interestingly, no arrests were made. The investigating police officers brushed it off as a 'kinky experiment gone wrong.' His death remains ‘unexplained.'
KK Josh and Abhish Shivam
(2013)
Field: Nuclear Energy
Known for: Working at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
Death: Both engineers, who were involved with building India's first nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant, were found dead on railway tracks near Vishakapatnam Naval yard under suspicious circumstances. The police found no marks on their bodies. However, the Ministry of Defence have dismissively described the incident as a ‘routine accident.” Surprisingly, the investigation was assigned to the local police and not to the National Investigation Agency. The ministry also ruled out further investigations in the matter.
Umang Singh and Partha Pratim Bag
(–2009)
Field: Atomic Energy
Known for: Worked at the BARC
Death: These researchers at BARC died in a mysterious fire in their lab, despite no known inflammable materials being present.
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Mohammad Mustafa
(-2012)
A scientist at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research was found dead with his wrists slashed. Though a suicide note was found, his death raised questions as no clear reason for suicide emerged. He was only 24.
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Titus Pal
(–2012)
Field: Nuclear Science
Known for: Worked at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Death: Officially reported as a suicide, the BARC scientist was found hanging in her apartment under unexplained circumstances. She was only 27.
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And others....
Those who were, somewhat, luckier.....
Nambi Narayanan
Field: Space Science
Known for: ISRO
Case: ISRO scientist, falsely accused of espionage. Recently cleared of all charges.
Tapan Misra
Survived two poisoning attempts.
Source: https://indiafacts.org/list-of-indian-nuclear-scientists-who-died-mysterious-deaths/
Unnamed Senior Official of NPC
Five years before Mahalingam's death, in the same forest where Mahalingham’s body was eventually discovered, an armed group with sophisticated weaponry allegedly tried to abduct an official from India’s Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC). He, however, managed to escape.
Source:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-are-indian-authorities-ignoring-the-deaths-of-nuclear-scientists/