A day after the shocking death of Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, preliminary post-mortem findings have now confirmed drowning as the cause, offering some answers, while leaving key questions unresolved.

As earlier reported, the actor had gone into the sea during a break while shooting near Talsari beach on Sunday (March 29, 2026).

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‘We rushed, but he….’: Director recounts Rahul Arunoday Banerjee’s last moments

He was later pulled out by crew members and rushed to a hospital in Digha, where he was declared ‘brought dead’.

The autopsy, conducted at Tamluk Hospital on Monday, reveals the extent of what transpired underwater.

According to sources, Banerjee had remained submerged for a considerable duration, allowing sand and saline water to enter deep into his lungs. This led to the lungs swelling to nearly double their normal size, a critical indicator of drowning.

Investigators have also found traces of sand and seawater in his food pipe, reinforcing the conclusion that he inhaled large amounts of water and debris while struggling in the sea.

However, as in many such cases, the full picture is yet to emerge. Officials said it is still unclear whether alcohol played any role in the incident.

Viscera samples have been preserved and sent for examination, and the results are awaited.

Banerjee’s death has triggered an outpouring of grief across the Bengali entertainment industry. He is survived by his wife, actress Priyanka Sarkar, and their son.

Recounting the incident, his co-star Diganta Bagchi said the actor had gone alone into the water after the shoot. “After today's shoot, he went alone to the water but somehow got entangled in something under the water... The exact circumstances are not clear,” he told ANI, adding that panic broke out when crew members realised Rahul was drowning.

For many, the tragedy is difficult to process given Banerjee’s long-standing presence in Bengali cinema and television.

He rose to fame with the blockbuster ‘Chirodini Tumi Je Amar’ (2008) and went on to feature in films like ‘Zulfiqar’ (2016), Byomkesh ‘Gotro’ (2019), and ‘Biday Byomkesh’ (2018).

His television work, including ‘Horogouri Pice Hotel’ and ‘Mohona’, kept him closely connected with audiences over the years.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed her grief, saying she was “shocked” and “deeply saddened” by the actor’s sudden passing.

As the familiar face of Bengali screens is mourned, the focus now shifts to the pending viscera report, which is expected to clarify whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.

For now, the post-mortem findings confirm what many feared, but the circumstances leading to those final moments remain only partially understood.