Bodies of mountaineers Kuntal Karar & Biplab Baidya reach home

Kolkata: The bodies of mountaineers Kuntal Karar and Biplab Baidya reached the city airport on Saturday night.

The duo, who had embarked on expedition to Kanchenjanga, had died a few days back due to their deteriorating health condition.

The coffins of the two mountaineers reached the city on Saturday night and then the bodies were taken to Peace Haven. Kuntal's body was taken to Howrah Mountaineering Club on Sunday morning where state Co-Operation minister Arup Roy, who is also an MLA from Howrah Madhya, paid tribute to him along with a sea of people who assembled to offer their condolence.

His body was taken to his residence at Kona area. The last rites was performed at the Banstala crematorium in Howrah. Minister of state for Sports and Youth Affairs Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who was supervising the last rites of Kuntal since his arrival in the city airport said: "It is extremely sad. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed me to go to the airport to receive the bodies. We have guidelines for mountaineers and we also conduct thorough health check of those people who go on mountain expedition."

The body of mountaineer Biplab Baidya was also taken to his residence in Sonarpur on Sunday morning.

The local people and neighbours turned up in huge number to bid adieu to him.

It may be mentioned that Ramesh Ray and Rudraprasad Halder – who were on Kanchenjanga expedition along with Kuntal and Biplab had also fallen sick during the Kanchenjanga expedition. They were treated at Kathmandu Hospital and they had reached the city a few days back.

Another mountaineer from the state Dipankar Ghosh's body was airlifted on Saturday and has been brought to Kathmandu. Ghosh had died during his expedition to Mount Makalu in Nepal. His body is expected to reach the state by Tuesday. He had successfully scaled the fifth highest peak in the world but while descending to the base camp went missing and later died.