Official Report On Departure of Aindra Prabhu

[Vijaya Baladeva das]

Initiated in Sri Vrindavan Dham U.P India

Interviews conducted by Gopal Das (Head Of Department) 24hr kirtan.

Investigating cause of fire and death of HG Aindra Prabhu,

Room 89 Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula Building.



The reason for this report is to have clarity and proper
representation of what happened.

Panca Gauda Das, Adi Kesava Das and Martanda Das wrote there own
account of events as they happened. Gopal das conducted the other
interviews. To Gopal Das's knowledge none of the devotees shared
information with each other prior to being interviewed.





Description/ Dimensions of Room.



Length 20ft width 11ft floor to ceiling 10.5ft



The room was made for studio recording facility there was only one
entry and exit point that was composed of three doors. The first door
was a mosquito screen door which was nailed to the original front
door. The bottom right corner was made into a small trap door or air
vent behind these two doors was a second door made air tight from wood
covered with professional studio sound proofing rubber and foam
materials imported from New York.



After entering the room on the immediate left three feet from the
ground were kitchen shelves and at ground level were two gas burners
connected to a gas cylinder bottle via rubber hose pipe.

At the end of the room the furthest point from the door is where the
altar and deities resided.





First person in the room

17th Morning account by Adi Kesava Das



It was 6:30am and Aindra prabhu did not come to dress the Deities.
This was not unusual as it had happened many times before that he
comes late because he is tired and so we have to go wake him up. I
sent Rasikendra prabhu one of the pujaris to go up and call him. He
returned after some time and said that he knocked on the door but
there was no answer. A few minutes later he and Gopendra prabhu
another pujari mentioned that they recalled hearing some sounds &
seeing smoke coming from his room the night before about 10:30pm.
Their room is situated in another building adjacent to the Gurukula so
they were seeing through Aindra prabhus back window.

I took it very seriously and rushed upstairs. I started banging loudly
on the door calling out his name. By then Damodarastakam prabhu,
Arjuna Krsna prabhu and Martanda woke up and came outside. I informed
them that he had not come to dress the deities. Some pujaris noticed
some smoke coming from his room the night before. I suggested that we
break open the door and check. I went downstairs to inform the head of
security to get help to break open the door as well as to call the
carpenter. Arjuna Krsna prabhu got some tools to try to open the lock.
I met Sanak Sanatana prabhu and informed him of the urgent situation.
He immediately responded and went upstairs. With an iron pipe we began
banging on the door. We managed to push open the small trap door which
pushed against the big inner door.

I entered through the small trap door; there was a very strong smell
of gas. I was calling out his name. A major part of the room as well
as the deities were all black and mainly the front area near the door
had been heavily burnt. I looked to the right at his computer desk but
he was not there. I proceeded forward to the altar and looked to the
left; he was bowing down behind Lord Nityananda. I went over to him
thinking that he may be unconscious due to the gas; I called out his
name touching his body. I tried to move him but his body was very
heavy and stiff. I tilted him to the side to see his face and saw the
burns. I called out to Sanak Sanatana and the other devotees to help
me as he was too heavy. By then the door had been fully opened and
Arjuna Krsna prabhu, Martanda prabhu, Sanak Sanatana prabhu and myself
carried him out. We placed his body on a grass matt and covered it
with saffron cloth.

Shortly after, I took the initiative to lock the room. Mahabhagavat
prabhu provided the lock. I opened the room once for the police to
inspect.

After Aindra Prabhu’s body had left for an autopsy which was about 4
hours later approximately 1pm, I handed the room keys over to
Giridhari prabhu and we began moving the other smaller Deities out.

In conclusion I can say that I did not notice anything that seemed
like that there was any arson or external interference that may have
caused this fire. It is quite clear to me being the first person to
enter the room that it was an accident and of course ultimately
Krishna’s will.

Adi Kesava Das

Caretaker of Srila Prabhupada’s Quarters and serving in the Pujari
Department





Second person in the room

Interview with Aindra Prabhu’s servant Arjun Krishna Das

Conducted by Gopal das on 24th July 2010



Arjun Krishna Das last saw Aindra Prabhu after his kirtan service in
the temple room 7pm 16th July. Arjun Krishna was the second person to
enter the room after Adi Keseva ( Pujari Department) on the 17th July
after 7am.



Once the alarm was raised akd made an attempt to break the door open.
Sanak Sanatan prabhu broke the door open. Adi Keseva first entered,
second was Akd, Martanda both members of the 24 hr kirtan and last
Sanak Sanatan from the temple management. Arjun recalls calling out to
Aindra Prabhu but there was no response Akd made an attempt to break
the glass and back window but failed when he understood that Aindra
prabhu had left his body.



The question was than raised by Gopal Das If there had been any
indication of arson or suicide?
Arjun Krishna Das says no.

Akd says it was a clear accident. Prior to this incident he had
witnessed personally two small explosions with the same cooking
apparatus on separate occasions.

Akd had smelt a burning gassy metallic smell from his room but it was
not such a heavy smell and thought that it may have been something
from the gurukul when they had previously cooked with coal and
possibly a factory in the back of the MVT this was approximately after
10pm on the 16th July.

Akd did not think it needed investigation as air pollution is a common
occurrence in the ashram, part of the reason why Aindra prabhu had his
room air tight.



Akd refers to the room as very claustrophobic and difficult to work in
especially when Aindra Prabhu would cook.





Akd concluded that Aindra Prabhu had taken back the only other 2nd key
to his room from him 2 months before. Prabhuji also stopped taking any
service like cleaning etc.. He also became reclusive using a do not
disturb sign on his front door.



Arjun Krishna Prabhu’s final conclusion after all questioning was that
it was a most unfortunate fire accident similar to the smaller ones he
had previously witnessed in the room this one proving to be fatal.









Third person in the room



Martanda Prabhuji report



Hare Krishna!



This is my report.

I saw H.G. Aindra Prbhu last time about 9.20 Pm. when he was going to
buy bhoga for his Deities.

I have a kirtan shift 7 to 10 Pm. So when I came back to my room after
10 Pm., I smelt smoke and gas.

I thought that someone was burning some papers in our room, why he was
so stupid and didn’t do it on veranda. I also smell gas, so I tight my
and another devotee gas bottle.

There was no even second thought in my mind that something is going on
behind the wall, no suspicion, no doubt.

I went to Arjuna Krsna room and I spend there one hour, after that I
went to sleep.

Next morning I woke up because someone was banging the door of Aindra
Prabhu room.

Usually when doesn’t want to open, he will not open. But this was too
loud and too long. I woke up with anxiety. I came out with gamsha and
I saw Adi Kesava Pr. banging to the door, I also saw Arjuna Krsna who
was trying to open the door from outside using some tools. My anxiety
was growing more and more. After less than minute came Sanaka Sanatana
Pr. and he was loudly saying that we need to open this door
immediately, maybe he’s dying there. He took big iron pipe and was
banging against small door. He managed to break the screen and open
the small door. First person who went inside thru the opening was Adi
Kesava, next was Arjuna Krsna, after him was me.

When I was inside I pushed very strongly whole door with my arm and I
managed to open.

Room was completely dark; there was no lights, only little light from
the windows. I heard voice of Adi Kesava, “Help us to carry him
outside”. I went to the corner of his room where Deities of Nitai-
Sacisuta are resting.

I saw Aindra Prabhu, his face was burnt and had red color. I took one
arm and I told another devotee to take second arm and we managed to
take him outside. When we put him on the floor of the veranda Sanaka
Sanatana said: “He is gone”. He’s body was stiff and he left his body
when he was paying obeisance’s. Later on I came to know that he was
found at the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda paying obeisances and
touching His feet with two palms.



I hope that this is enough to prove that what happened was accident
and fire from gas bottle. When I looked again in his room I saw he’s
door completely burnt from inside the foam was completely burnt was
lying on the floor behind the door. Also I saw that fire went to shelf
and was spreading upward (see the pictures below). How fire was
extinguished? There was not enough oxygen for the fire to burn.

Why Aindra Prabhu didn’t try to go outside?

My understanding is as follows.

Situation was so dramatic and sudden that he was thinking that whole
room will be burnt and feeling that he’s not able to protect his
Deities he managed to take shelter of Lord Nityananda. Another factor
was carbon monoxide which is produced from burning and when this
substance is entering the body brain stops function properly.

Another thing is that maybe he was trying to go outside but whole door
was in flames and therefore he was not able to do it or maybe he was
thinking that if he will open the door this will give more food for
the fire to spread in the room.



Hare Krishna.

Martanda Dasa







Fourth person in the room



Interview with Sanak Sanatan Prabhu ( VMC Member)



Conducted on 26th July 2010 by Gopal Das



On the 17th morning after Srila Prabhupad’s Samadhi darshan arti
approximately 5 past 7am Adi Keseva Prabhu requested Sanak Sanatan to
help with a problem relating to the smell of gas coming from Aindra
Prabhu’s room and him not responding.



Adi Keseva was heading towards the carpenters workshop to get tools,
Sanak Sanatan prabhu told him the workshop was closed and so they
proceeded upstairs to Aindra Prabhu’s room outside was a small tool
box of some chisels and other working materials they all failed to
penetrate the front door.

At the end of the veranda in the ashram SSD found a large heavy iron
pipe with the assistance of Adi Keseva they broke through the mosquito
screen door forcing open the trap door/air vent creating enough space
for a small person to enter.

SSD sent Adi Keseva in first, cautioning him not to switch on any
lights as the predominate smell of gas could cause a large explosion.
After a minute or two Adi Keseva responded ‘I need some help to move
him as he is too heavy I cannot lift him alone’.

Martanda and Arjun Krishna responded by entering the room. SSD was
attempting to open the door with the pipe while from inside the room
Martanda and Arjun Krishna were attempting to force the doors open it
was jammed. After some time with difficulty the doors opened.



Sanak Sanatan Prabhu witnessed that Aindra Prabhu’s body had suffered
from first and second degree burns. His face was burned with blistered
eyes closed shut, his upper body hands, shoulders, and arms were also
burned. There were no third degree burns the worst were on the face
shoulders arms and hands he does not recall seeing anything on the
lower body. After requesting for a mat to be placed on the outside
veranda.

Aindra Prabhu was first placed on his side, than placed on his back.
He was somewhat stiff and partially remaining in the obeisance’s
position as he was first found. Sanak Sanatan prabhu says it was very
clear and obvious what had happened even without immediately having a
doctors opinion Adi Keseva mentioned to Sanak Sanatan that some
pujaris had stated that they saw smoke and fire.



Gopal Das asked Sanak Sanatan if he had seen any indication of an
attempt on Aindra Prabhu’s life through arson.

Sanak Sanatan replied no, it was a clear accident. It would have been
very difficult for someone to have started a fire as the door was
locked from inside. It is clear that there was a gas leakage and as
Aindra Prabhu made an attempt to start his bhoga cooking the gas
ignited causing a fireball to explode in his face and upper body.



Aindra Pr than appears to have proceeded to the back window of his
room maybe in an attempt to call or signal for help.



A large copper water pot with spout was found emptied near his body he
could have been trying to break the glass, unfortunately the triple
plain glass used for sound proofing the back window would have taken
an Axe or hammer to penetrate.



SSD concludes that he may have been able to escape from the room, due
to the fire burning directly unto the door which had ignited the
rubber sound proofing material made it very difficult to escape.



This extreme fire fed by the gas leakage in the rubber hose trapping
the only exit point. Due to this strong fire the electricity cut out
coupled with smoke and soot made the room dense and dark.



Gopal Das asked SSD that if the alarm was raised that night just after
the fire had started and someone had broken into the room to rescue
him could he have survived.?



SSD replied ‘yes if the alarm was raised immediately .Even though it
is hard to say, it is for a professional opinion. I would say that he
had between 10-15 min survival time.’



The fire trap at the door prevented him from escaping, since it was a
very intense fire which consumed the oxygen in the room. The gas
regulator on the cylinder was industrial instead of domestic. Domestic
regulators have a membrane on the head which controls the amount of
gas and output pressure maintaining a steady flame of no more than
15-20cm.



Industrial regulators have a screw system and does not have as much
control on the

Output of pressure.

This caused high pressure, causing a gas leakage which initiated a
fireball and later fed the fatal flames of fate causing eventually the
fire to put itself out by consuming all oxygen in the room.


For more information, please check out www.24hourkirtan.com