Australia: Bengali Couple’s Heroic Actions amid Sydney Mall Stabbing
In a heartwarming display of courage, an Indian couple from Kolkata played a crucial role in safeguarding lives during the horrific Sydney mall stabbing incident.
Surviving the Nightmare
Sairindhri Ghoshal and Debashis Chakrabarty were shopping at the bustling Westfield center when chaos erupted. A frenzied attacker wielding a knife unleashed a stabbing spree, leaving six people dead and several injured.
Amidst the pandemonium, Sairindhri and Debashis’s main goal became clear: to stay alive until help arrived. Instinctively, they joined the throng of people rushing into a nearby store, unaware of the terror unfolding outside. As they made their way to the back room, they overheard chilling accounts of stabbings occurring right outside.
Hiding for Safety
With fear gnawing at them, the couple resolved to remain hidden. “Our main goal was to stay locked in until the police came,” Sairindhri recalls in a conversation with TOI. The store employees, recognizing the gravity of the situation, swiftly unlocked the door and ushered them into a storeroom where they hid among cardboard boxes for over 15 minutes.
“Those moments were harrowing,” Sairindhri says, her voice still heavy with the burden of that day. “We couldn’t believe what was happening.”
Finding Freedom
As the police stormed the mall, the couple’s ordeal came to an end. The store employees, who had played a vital role in keeping them concealed, guided them to safety. Emerging from their hiding place, Sairindhri and Debashis breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped out into the open air.
“It was an unfathomable experience,” Sairindhri says. “We’re still in shock, but we’re grateful to be alive.”
Support from Home
News of the couple’s ordeal quickly reached their family and friends in Kolkata, who were filled with shock and concern. Sairindhri and Debashis spent the following hours fielding calls from loved ones, recounting their harrowing experience. “It’s been difficult to repeat the same thing over and over,” she admits.
Sairindhri, an IT professional, and Debashis, who works in a different firm, moved to Sydney in early 2020. They belong to a close-knit community that has rallied around them in the wake of the tragedy.
Community Resilience
The Sydney mall stabbing has left an indelible mark on the city. In the aftermath of the attack, vigils and tributes have been held to honor the victims and celebrate the bravery of those who risked their lives to help others.
The heroic actions of Sairindhri and Debashis, along with countless others, serve as a testament to the resilience and compassion of the human spirit. Their story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and a determination to overcome adversity.
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Mehek