5-year-old girl drowns in Keshtopur canal, dies on way to hospital

A heartbreaking tragedy struck the New Town area of Kolkata on Wednesday morning as a five-year-old girl drowned after reportedly going into the dangerous Keshtopur Bagjola Canal. The incident, which unfolded rapidly while the children were playing or bathing in the water, has sparked widespread chaos and renewed fury among residents regarding the canal’s neglected safety hazards. While one child was rescued by quick-acting locals, the young girl was pulled out only after a prolonged search, tragically succumbing upon reaching the hospital.

The victim has been identified as Ritu Kanai, merely five years old. A twelve-year-old boy, Priyanshu Kumar, was also caught in the mishap. Both children were residents of the nearby Chandipur area, and the incident occurred close to their homes, falling under the jurisdiction of the New Town Police Station. Priyanshu was rushed to the hospital following his rescue and is currently undergoing treatment.

According to local accounts, both Ritu and Priyanshu descended into the canal water early on Wednesday morning, intending to take a bath or simply play near the often-used banks. Within moments of entering the water, the two children began to flounder and were rapidly pulled under the water's current, quickly becoming overwhelmed by the depth and flow.

Their desperate screams for help alerted people nearby. Residents immediately rushed to the scene and managed to pull the twelve-year-old Priyanshu Kumar out of the water, saving his life. His quick rescue by the locals ensured he received immediate medical attention.

However, the search for five-year-old Ritu proved far more challenging. She had vanished beneath the surface. Locals immediately alerted the police, who arrived swiftly at the location. A frantic search operation involving the police and locals was launched, but Ritu was only recovered after approximately an hour had passed.

She was immediately transported to a nearby hospital but was tragically pronounced dead by attending doctors, confirming the devastating loss. The incident has caused immense uproar in the locality, with residents strongly alleging that the administration has repeatedly ignored their persistent appeals for the canal area to be properly fenced off to prevent such fatal accidents. The administration, in turn, stated that locals have been consistently warned against venturing into the canal's dangerous waters, but these warnings have often gone unheeded.