The preliminary autopsy reports of Bollywood singer Krishnakumar Kunnath (53), popularly known as KK, on Wednesday ruled out any “unnatural cause” behind his death. It suspected some underlying heart conditions that might have triggered the “attack” soon after he came out of a Kolkata music concert on Tuesday evening.
This, while the local medical fraternity expressed strong views about the “gas chamber-like” environment provided to the Mumbai star inside the Nazrul Manch. They also said vital hours were lost in the process of driving KK to his hotel instead of a top-class medical facility just a stone’s throw from the concert venue.
According to sources in the Government-run SSKM hospital, while there was no unnatural cause in his death, the main autopsy report would be made available after three days during which some chemical tests will be conducted by experts.
“It seems that there were some heart issues …but things will be clearer after a few days,” said a doctor requesting anonymity.
KK’s personal manager Hitesh Bhatt said he was feeling uncomfortable while he was performing and that’s why he took a 10-minute break. He was repeatedly wiping his face too on account of heavy sweating. After the performance, he complained that he was feeling cold and turned off the air conditioner in the car. After reaching the hotel when I opened the door he fell down.” According to sources, the singer had left the venue past 8.30 pm and reached the hotel at around 9.30 pm. Expressing disgust at how things were often allowed to drift out of control both medically and otherwise, senior cardiologist Dr Kunal Sarkar said it was high time the State Government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took measures about overcrowded venues.
“Hosting 20,000 people in open air and 7,000 people in a place meant for 2,500 are different propositions … the Government and the Chief Minister must take note of this,” the doctor said. “He asked “why if the singer was feeling uncomfortable was not rushed to the top class medical facility which is just a stone’s throw away from the Nazrul Manch … why was there no medical doctor or a paramedic to control the situation and advice … we lost this singer … we could have lost many more from the audience … this kind of negligence must be addressed immediately.”
Other doctors said such a punishing atmosphere could cause a drop in potassium levels and wondered how the management could allow the unruly crowd to burst fire-extinguishers inside the auditorium just like opening champagne bottles.
The programme was organised by the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad-run students’ union of a North Kolkata college.
BJP State president and MP Sukanto Majumdar said “police must register a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder considering the way the vast crowd was allowed in by the management and the policemen posted there”.
Meanwhile, the Bengal Government gave an emotional send off to the departed singer KK with a gun salute at iconic Rabindra Sadan. The programme was supervised personally by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Chief Minister met the family members of the departed singer with thousands of fans gathering outside Rabindra Sadan. “The sudden and untimely demise of the Bollywood playback singer KK shocks and saddens us. My colleagues have been working from last night to ensure that all requisite support is given for necessary formalities, his rites and to his family now. My deep condolences,” she tweeted.
