Bokaro, Feb. 19: A Russian engineer working for the BSL modernisation project was found dead in his sector IV C flat this morning.

The body of Nikolay Fiodor Vercoshanskiy (54), living alone in the flat, was found on a sofa at the drawing room of the flat number 1099 after his morning-shift colleagues broke open the door after there was no response to their repeated calls, said Bokaro Steel sources.

Police were yet to ascertain the actual reason of the death till late this afternoon.

Nikolay was working as an expert mechanical engineer at the cold rolling mill unit of BSL and had joined the steel giant on July 31 last year.

Nikolay, whose three children and wife live at Novokuznetsk (Siberia), was reportedly “frustrated with monotonous life” in the steel city. Loneliness could be a matter of concern for the engineer. His family members and senior officers of the Russian embassy are on their way to Bokaro, said the sources.

Nikolay came on a contract of five years as his employer Tyaz Pro Export firm of Russia put him at this job for the expansion of Bokaro Steel plant. The steel plant was set up in technological collaboration with the then USSR in 1965. The modernisation work at the plant is being supervised by 25-odd engineers.

Police sources said Nikolay was a chronic diabetic patient with high blood pressure and liver problem. The death could have been caused by cardiac arrest, too, said the sources. His interpreter Olexander Zheletov took him to Bokaro general hospital on Saturday after the engineer had complained of restlessness and physical problems. The attending doctors had reportedly advised Nikolay to put a check on drinking.

N.A. Budava, one of his colleagues at the steel plant, requested Nikolay to accompany him for shopping to City Centre market last evening but Nikolay turned down the request saying he was not feeling well and wanted to take rest.

A case was registered regarding the death at sector IV police station.

Later, talking to newspersons, Bokaro police superintendent Priya Dubey said the police were investigating into the matter to know the reasons behind the engineer’s death.