National level swimmer drowns, body missing

A national level swimmer and retired Customs employee, Kajal Dutta drowned in a swimming pool at College Square.

The incident took place at around 8 am on Friday after he started swimming in the pool. Police and disaster management team started a search operation but they failed to trace the victim till late Friday evening.

Life member of Bowbazar Bayam Samiti elderly Dutta used to visit the swimming pool quite often for swimming. The victim himself was a trainer of swimming. Many people in the area have raised questions on how a person like Dutta who was a champion swimmer could drown in a pool like this. They have also alleged that there might be some foul play in the incident. The local residents also alleged that police came to the spot late.

It has been alleged that police reached the spot two hours after the victim drowned in the pool. Locals said that Dutta was an efficient swimmer and also worked as a life saver at the College Street swimming pool.

Witnesses said that Dutta went to row number 8 for swimming when some others were swimming in the pool as well. Few minutes had passed but Dutta did not come out of the pool. The water polo players started a search operation but failed to get any trace of the victim. Some local trainers also took part in the rescue operation.

The disaster management team also started a search but the victim could not be traced. Water was drained out from the pool where the victim went for swimming. Divers were sent under the concrete slabs but only the victim's towel has been found by the rescue team.

Police have started a probe in this regard. The investigating officer is not, however, ruling out the possibility of any foul play in the incident. The incident triggered tension among the people who regularly swim in the pool. The disaster management team carried out the search till later Friday evening.

It may be mentioned that a girl student from Calcutta University died after drowning at a swimming pool in Hedua while swimming in June 2016.