The Chorbagan stampede in Kolkata killed 19 people, including 13-year-old Pranjal Sarkar, even as his father Anukul rescued several children trapped under the crowd during the chaos at the Durga Puja pandal, according to a report by the Times of India.
Anukul, a resident of Agarpara, had travelled to the pandal with family members, friends and their children. The group of 13 had left together, but only 12 returned. Pranjal, who had reportedly insisted on the outing, was the only member of the group who died.
The crowd suddenly swelled during the visit, with heavy rain adding to the difficult conditions. Anukul told the Times of India that there was pushing and shoving before people began falling under the pressure of the crowd. He lost hold of Pranjal’s hand while trying to move through the gathering and was unable to locate his son immediately.
Despite his concern, Anukul began pulling children out from under the crowd. Among those he reached was Ahana, a friend of Pranjal, who was found unconscious on the ground. Anukul pulled her out, placed her on the road and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until she regained consciousness. He then left her with his wife, Priyanka, and continued searching for his son.
Anukul repeatedly approached police personnel deployed for security, describing Pranjal and asking whether they had seen him. He was eventually told that a child had been taken to another location. Near the entrance, he found Pranjal lying close to a small medical assistance centre.
Anukul then sought immediate transport to take his son to hospital, appealing for an ambulance, a motorcycle or any available vehicle. A biker eventually took father and son to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital. Anukul told the newspaper that he continued performing CPR on Pranjal after reaching the hospital, but the boy could not be saved.
Pranjal was one of four children among the 19 people killed in the stampede. The report said Anukul’s family is struggling to cope with the loss. At their home in Tetultala, his son’s swimming medals, trophies and other mementoes remain scattered around the house. Family members said Anukul is haunted by the fact that he rescued other children but could not protect his own son.
Priyanka, who lost her only child, has stopped eating, according to the report. A neighbour, Rabin Ghosh, said the family had been planning a trip for the following week. The account also highlights the consequences of crowd congestion, limited visibility during heavy rain and the urgent need for rapid access to medical assistance during large public gatherings.
