Tributes pour in for KK, cardiac arrest likely caused death

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Police on Wednesday registered a case of unnatural death in connection with the sudden demise of 53-yearold singer Krishnakumar Kunnath — popularly known as KK — on Tuesday night, said West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas.

The singer had complained of chest pain on Tuesday night after he performed at a concert in Kolkata and collapsed in his hotel room. He was declared ‘brought dead’ at a private hospital. The police case came against the backdrop of allegations of overcrowding at the venue, with the air-conditioners not working. Videos that emerged on Wednesday show a profusely sweating KK complaining about the heat.

KK’S wife and children arrived in the Bengal capital on Wednesday morning to take his body back to Mumbai. A post-mortem was conducted on Wednesday at the state-run SSKM hospital which indicated cardiac arrest as the cause of death.

The state government paid tribute to the popular singer with a gun salute by Kolkata Police in the presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The cremation is scheduled for Thursday.

Paying tribute the later singer, PM Narendra Modi tweeted: “His songs reflected a wide range of emotions as struck a chord with people of all age groups. We will always remember him through his songs. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.”

The unnatural death case was registered at New Market police station. The probe is being supervised by joint commissioner of police (crime) Muralidhar Sharma.

A senior official from the private hospital where KK was taken on Tuesday night said the doctors on duty did not issue a death certificate for the singer after they declared him dead on arrival. This led to the registration of the case and post mortem, with the family’s consent, in accordance to the law, police officials said.

A senior police officer said hotel staff told police that KK collapsed around 9.15 pm and was brought down to the ground floor on a stretcher before being taken to the private hospital in one of the hotel’s vehicles. The car left the hotel around 9.45 pm, said the officer. “We are trying to find out why KK did not opt to go to a hospital while returning to the hotel and whether there was any negligence on part of the hotel staff,” a police officer said on condition of anonymity. KK’S manager, Ritesh Bhatt, who was with him on Tuesday night, said the singer started feeling uncomfortable in the car while returning to the hotel. “He was okay at the auditorium. While returning, he said he was feeling extremely cold and asked the driver to switch off the AC. He said he was having cramps in his arms and feet. He collapsed after reaching his room,” Bhatt said.

A political tussle sprung up over the singer’s death with opposition leaders alleging mismanagement of the venue and alleging that ruling Tinamool Congress (TMC) workers “oversold” tickets to the show.

According to Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, over 6,000 people crowded into the Nazrul Manch auditorium, which has a seating capacity of only 2,482.

“The AC system at Nazrul Manch is in perfect order. KK fell ill and complained of excessive heat because the ACS became virtually useless with 7,000 people gathering at a place meant for 2,000. Yet, he kept singing,” said Hakim, who also heads the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority that owns Nazrul Manch.

Bengal BJP chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya and state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded an inquiry into the singer’s death amid allegations that Tuesday’s show was marked by mismanagement and unruly scenes that affected KK’S health. Many people who went to the event also alleged that the airconditioning system was not working.

KMDA director general Supriya Maity conducted an inspection at the auditorium on Wednesday where the staff said the crowd broke open a gate to enter the venue. “I will submit a report to the government,” Maity said.