Jadavpur resident dies due to severe breathing trouble after reaching Sandakphu

A heartbreaking incident shocked tourists in North Bengal when an elderly 72-year-old woman Anindita Gangopadhyay from Jadavpur, Kolkata, passed away within some time after reaching Sandakphu, the highest peak of West Bengal. The elderly woman had come on a family trip with her sister Ajanta Bandyopadhyay. They had spent the last few days visiting Lepchajagat and Tumling before finally driving up to Sandakphu yesterday. Within 10-15 minutes of reaching the top, Anindita suddenly felt uncomfortable due to severe breathing difficulty.

Despite quick action by fellow travellers and the Singalila Land Rover Association members, nothing could save her. She was immediately rushed down to Sukhiapokhri Hospital but doctors declared her brought dead. Officials said the sudden drop in oxygen level at nearly 12,000 feet altitude proved fatal for the senior citizen. GTA Vice-Chairman Rajesh Chauhan, who reached the hospital, confirmed that everything possible was done but her age and the extreme height made it impossible for her body to cope.

This tragic death has once again highlighted the risks of high-altitude travel, especially for elderly visitors. Local authorities cooperated and arranged to send the body to Siliguri after post-mortem and helping the family to take back to Kolkata. As winter tourism picks up and hundreds flock to North Bengal and Sandakphu especially to catch the golden sunrise on Kanchenjunga, it is very useful and mandatory for the travellers to get a basic health check-up and carry portable oxygen if they have age-related issues.