Kolkata: A 20-year-old brain dead youth's organs are set to save at least three lives struggling with organ failure and show the light to another battling blindness. The liver and kidneys of Sukumar Sarkar were transplanted into three patients in three different hospitals in the city, while his corneas have been banked. This deceased organ donation in Kolkata comes after a gap of three months.
Fatal accident after bike purchase
Sukumar Sarkar's maiden joy ride on his new bike proved fatal for him on May 31. Family sources said he had secured a job in a private bank about six months ago while he was still pursuing his graduation through distance education. A bike enthusiast, he saved money and purchased the bike, returning home from the showroom last Sunday.
“He went out again at night to take a spin on his bike and met with an accident in New Town, suffering a severe head injury,” said Chittabrata Naha, a neighbour and friend of the donor's father Manabendra Sarkar.
The resident of Hatiara, New Town lost control of his bike and collided with a mini truck near Eco Park. Initially rushed to the nearest hospital, his friends transferred him to Apollo Multispecialty Hospital (AMH) that night itself.
Family's courageous decision
Admitted under neurosurgeon Debarshi Chatterjee, the family said a team of doctors tried their best to save Sukumar. But despite all efforts, the team informed the family that he was brain dead.
“In the midst of unimaginable grief, his parents displayed extraordinary courage, compassion, and humanity by agreeing to donate his organs,” said a hospital source. ROTTO (East) was informed after the 20-year-old was declared brain dead. ROTTO allocated the liver to AMH, a kidney to IPGMER-SSKM, the second kidney to RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, and the corneas to Disha Eye Bank.
Sources said while the donor's heart and lungs were also fit for transplant, these organs were offered to other states as no matching recipients were found in Bengal. On finding no response from other states, the three organs and corneas were harvested.
Deceased donation statistics in Bengal
This year, Bengal has logged only three deceased donations, whereas in 2025, by the first week of June, around eight donations had already taken place. All three donations this year have originated from Apollo. Notably, not a single donation has originated from state-run IPGMER-SSKM Hospital, which used to lead the deceased donation tally.
