Soumitra Chatterjee Dies at 85 in Kolkata After Struggle With COVID-19 Encephalopathy

Soumitra Chatterjee passes away at 85 at Bellevue Nursing Home in Kolkata. One of the most celebrated actors in the Bengali film industry, Chatterjee died after 40 days of struggle with COVID-19 complications. May he rest in peace!

Actor Soumitra Chatterjee dies in Kolkata at the age of 85. The legendary Bengali actor was diagnosed with COVID-19 on October 6 after which he was hospitalised at Bellevue Nursing Home in Kolkata where he breathed his last on Sunday, November 15. Even though Chatterjee was tested negative, the COVID-19 encephalopathy set in causing various other infections. Chatterjee had been struggling with COVID-19 complications for the last 40 days. A special team of doctors tried to improve his health condition by performing dialysis, putting him on a ventilator, and even conducting a tracheotomy. However, nothing helped and the actor was put on different life support systems on Saturday.

The hospital released an official statement on Chatterjee's passing away: "We declare with a heavy heart that Soumitra Chatterjee breathed his last at 12-15 pm at Belle Vue Clinic today (November 15, 2020). We pay our homage to his soul."

Earlier today, one of the doctors treating the celebrated Bengali actor informed that Chatterjee's family was informed about his worsened health and that only prayers and miracle can help change the outcome of his situation. "Let's all pray he gets better, but it seems unlikely he will have a favourable outcome. We have informed all the family members and with a saddened heart they have accepted that nothing less than miracle can get him out of this situation," he said. The doctor added that there was very little activity in his brain despite all the efforts that the team had been putting in.

On October 28, a hospital spokesperson had informed that the actor's kidney had stopped functioning and he was put in dialysis. However, the doctors hoped that he didn't need to be put on regular dialysis. He also had secondary pneumonia and the chances of aspersions had increased. It was after October 26, Monday, that Chatterjee's health condition worsened and most efforts by the doctors to resurrect him failed. His consciousness level started dropping and even though he opened his eyes for a while, the doctors called it a reflex movement.

Soumitra Chatterjee is remembered as one of the most loved Bengali actors. The Dada Saheb Phalke-awardee was the first Indian film personality to have got France's highest civilian award named Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. May his soul rest in peace!