Mumbai: Michael Serrao death: Kin contacted, but mortal remains still unclaimed

Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 9 Oct 2013: Soon after the news of fifty-eight-year-old Michael Leo Serrao’s death was published in websites, his family was identified as hailing from Jarigekatte in Kinnigoli. Serrao, who was employed as a waiter at Hot Sip Bar in Gokuldam, Dahisar (East) here, died on Sunday October 6 due to cardiac arrest, but none of his family members could be located initially.

 

 

His mortal remains are placed in the morgue at Bhagavati Hospital at Borivali (West). Hot Sip Bar owners had contacted Mumbai’s active social worker, journalist Rons Bantwal, and given the details of the deceased and requested him to locate his relatives in order to perform the funeral. Rons Bantwal, who swung into action, had the news published in websites besides contacting several people in Moodbidri and Kinnigoli.

 

 

The deceased Michael’s brother William Serrao was identified and contacted and he disclosed that Michael was a bachelor and their parents had passed away. He asked Rons to contact their younger brother Rony Serrao who is employed in Mumbai as a driver.

Though Rons tried to contact Rony Serrao, he did not respond to the call.  Rons also spoke to Fr Rosario Fernandes, parish priest Fatima parish, Mundkoor, to which the late Michael belonged. He suggested that it would be better to conduct the funeral in Mumbai.

As there is a scarcity of space in the hospital morgue, the hospital and the police have urged bar owner to opt for electric cremation.  However, the bar owner Ravindra Shetty and his brother-in-law, Udayakumar Shetty were hesitant, as it is known that Michael was a Catholic and cremation will be against his religious customs. The bar owners were granted additional 24 hours by the authorities to wait for his relatives. Udayakumar appreciated the efforts of Rons Bantwal and thanked media for trying to locate the family members of the deceased.

In the absence of family members to claim the mortal remains, Serrao’s final rites might be done according to the government procedures.