Nothing suspicious in Rooppur NPP deaths, says Rosatom

Rooppur Power Plant updated model

“JSC Atomstroyexport (Engineering Division of Russian State Corporation Rosatom) deeply sympathizes the families of the deceased employees who worked at the Rooppur NPP in Bangladesh. We always consider our employees as the best asset for the company and their life and wellbeing is our topmost priority, an official statement from Rosatom on recent deaths of Russian nationals, working at Rooppur NPP said on Wednesday.

The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to some speculations in local media and social media around these death incidents. According to primary reports, nothing suspicious was found in all the incidents.

“At this moment, we are extending every possible support and cooperation to the investigation team working to confirm the reasons for each and every case of death.

“Based on the final investigation report, with the support of our local and foreign partners, stakeholders, healthcare service provider and the administration, we will take all kinds of necessary measures to prevent the repetition of such sad incidents in future.” – Rosatom Press release

UNB reported: As many as five Russian employees of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant have died in 11 days ending on February 8 and prompting the police to initiate a probe.

On January 28, Barcenko Alexei, 48, died during treatment at Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex, while Shakiroff Alexei, 40, passed away in his sleep on February 2.

Three days later, Schukin Pavel, a 48-year-old mechanical engineer of sub-contractor firm Trest Rossem, died at the same upazila medical facility after suddenly falling sick. 

Tolmasoff Vassiliev, 59, another employee of another sub-contractor firm, died on the stairs of his 14th floor flat at a tower in the Green City housing project for the Russian officials of the power plant the same day.

On Sunday, Vortonikov Alexander, a 45-year-old employee of Nikim Atomstroya firm of the plant, was found dead in his flat at the same residential complex.

Asadussaman, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi police station, said that the autopsy reports of the deceased Russian nationals "did not show anything suspicious".

"One of them used to have drugs, while another had a cardiac ailment. However, we are probing all the deaths," he said.