A 41-year-old doctor working at a private hospital in Guwahati was found dead inside his chamber on Wednesday morning, with police suspecting that he may have died by suicide. The deceased was identified as Dr Prayash Singhal, an ICU physician associated with Nemcare Hospital. Police said the body was recovered from the hospital premises and sent to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for a postmortem examination. The investigation is underway, and authorities have said the exact cause of death will be established after the medical examination. 

According to hospital authorities, Singhal had been working at the facility for several years and was posted in the ICU of the hospital's new building. He had arrived at the hospital around 8 pm on Tuesday for his duty and remained there overnight. Hospital officials said that during the early hours of Wednesday, he told staff that he wanted to rest for a few hours and asked them not to disturb him. When on-duty staff later noticed something unusual, other doctors were alerted and Singhal was found unresponsive in his chamber. 

Police said the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined as part of a preliminary investigation. Bhangagarh Police Station personnel reached the hospital after being informed at around 9:30 am and recovered the body. Police officials said used syringes and vials believed to contain the sedative Propofol were found in the room. An officer said investigators suspect that the doctor may have administered a high dose of the drug, but stressed that all possible aspects of the case were being examined. 

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The possibility of a drug overdose has not yet been conclusively established. GMCH principal Babul Kumar Bezbaruah said the postmortem examination would help determine whether Propofol had been administered and whether it contributed to the death. He noted that an overdose of the sedative can cause serious complications, including respiratory and cardiovascular depression and, in severe cases, cardiorespiratory arrest. Until the postmortem findings are available, police and medical authorities have not confirmed the precise cause of death. 

Reports from local sources have also referred to possible personal difficulties in Singhal's life. Police told Hindustan Times that he was reportedly experiencing depression following a recent divorce, although his family had not confirmed this information. Other reports have similarly cited claims of mental distress, but authorities have not officially established any such factor as the reason for his death. Investigators are therefore expected to examine his circumstances, interactions and other available evidence before reaching any conclusion about the incident. 

Singhal's death has prompted concern among colleagues at the hospital, where he was described by hospital officials as a dedicated doctor. His family members have been asked to visit GMCH, and the body is expected to be handed over after the mandatory medical procedures are completed. Police said the investigation would continue after the postmortem report, which is expected to provide greater clarity on the circumstances and cause of the doctor's death. If this article is being published, it is advisable to avoid presenting suicide as definitively established until the investigation and postmortem findings confirm the cause.

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