Tripura CM Dr Manik Saha visits Ramnagar to pay tribute to young doctor Saptarshi Das, who died in a tragic Delhi–Lucknow highway accident. The family endured days of flight delays before his body reached Agartala for the final farewell.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha visited Ramnagar on Monday to pay tribute to the late Dr Saptarshi Das, a 23-year-old medical intern whose life was tragically cut short in a horrific road accident on the Delhi–Lucknow national highway on the night of December 3. His unexpected and untimely death has plunged his family, friends, and the wider medical community into profound grief, as they mourn the loss of a young man whose dedication to the medical profession showed immense promise.
According to reports, Saptarshi and his friends—Arnav Chakraborty, Ayush Sharma, and Shrestha Pancholi—were travelling together when their vehicle collided at high speed with a stationary truck. The impact caused their car to overturn, killing all four on the spot. The shocking accident occurred at a time when Saptarshi was only three months away from completing his MBBS internship at Venkateshwar Medical University in Lucknow. His parents, relatives, and mentors had eagerly anticipated his graduation, envisioning a bright career ahead of him in the medical field.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, who also serves as a senior medical practitioner, personally met the grieving family to extend his condolences. At the Ramnagar residence, the chief minister spent time speaking with the relatives, offering emotional support during their time of unimaginable sorrow. His presence symbolized the collective grief and solidarity shared by the entire state, as community members and neighbors gathered to pay their final respects to the young doctor.
The tragedy deepened as Saptarshi’s family faced significant delays in bringing his mortal remains back to Tripura due to nationwide disruptions in flight operations. After the autopsy was conducted in Delhi, the family expected a smooth transfer of the body to Agartala. However, multiple IndiGo flight cancellations over consecutive days forced them into a distressing and exhausting ordeal.
Saptarshi’s mother, Arpita Deb Sarkar, recounted the emotional and logistical turmoil of being repeatedly assured of scheduled flights, only to face last-minute cancellations. Each cancellation meant returning the body to the mortuary, arranging hotel accommodations again, and making fresh travel bookings. What should have been a swift and respectful journey home for their son turned into a traumatic three-day struggle that intensified the family’s grief.
It was only on Monday that Saptarshi’s body finally arrived at Agartala MBB Airport. Family members accompanied the remains to their residence in Ramnagar, where relatives, neighbors, and friends gathered to offer their condolences and support. The heartbreaking scene reflected the deep sorrow of a community that had watched Saptarshi grow up and admired his academic achievements and dedication to public service.
Chief Minister Dr Saha, while interacting with the bereaved family, highlighted the tragic loss of a budding doctor whose aspirations were rooted in serving people. He expressed profound sorrow over the misfortune that had taken away such a promising young talent, one who could have made significant contributions to the healthcare sector. His words offered some measure of comfort to the devastated family, who continue to grapple with the shock of losing their only son.
The chief minister also extended his support to the family during this difficult period and assured them that the government stands by them in their moment of grief. As people from across the neighborhood lined up to pay their respects, many remembered Saptarshi as a bright, humble, and compassionate young man who carried a deep sense of responsibility toward his profession.
The tragic accident has reignited debates on highway safety and the need for better measures to prevent such fatal collisions involving stationary vehicles on national highways. It has also drawn attention to the challenges faced by families during emergencies, particularly the unpredictable nature of flight operations when transporting bodies or critical patients.
As the community mourns the loss of a young doctor whose future shone brightly, the incident serves as a grim reminder of life’s fragility. The memory of Dr Saptarshi Das will remain etched in the hearts of those who knew him—his family, his friends, his colleagues, and the many well-wishers who admired his dedication, intelligence, and humanity.
