National-level swimmer's death: KMC finds illegal bamboo structure in pool

Kolkata: In an interesting twist to the death of a former national-level swimmer Kajal Dutta who drowned in the pool at College Square on August 11, it has been learnt that some structures of bamboo and wood were illegally constructed under the swimming bay.

Member and Mayor-in-Council (MMIC) Parks and Square in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Debasish Kumar said wooden structures were set up beneath the swimming bay at College Square flouting civic norms.

Kumar has assured that strong action will be taken against the accused in this connection. He also added that these types of structures are dangerous for swimmers. The matter will be looked into as to why there was a wooden structure set up under the swimming bay.

Stringent action will be taken against those who were responsible for setting up the bamboo structure in the swimming pool which is completely illegal. The matter will be dealt with strongly, Kumar maintained.

Dutta, an experienced swimmer, who was also a trainer, drowned and got trapped inside the illegal bamboo structure at College Square. His body was recovered nearly 24 hours after he drowned in the pool. Dutta, a retired Customs employee drowned in the swimming pool on August 11 and his body was recovered by the Disaster Management team on the next morning.

A life member of Bowbazar Bayam Samiti, elderly Dutta used to visit the swimming pool quite often for swimming. He was trapped inside the wooden structure. 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.