Kolkata: Several details have emerged of the chaos that prevailed at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata during KK's concert, and how the singer was showing symptoms of uneasiness during the performance. Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, was constantly requesting the authorities to switch off the spotlights and he was going backstage at intervals to take rest, sources told ABP Ananda.
However, despite feeling uneasy, KK completed his playlist of 20 songs at the event organised by Gurudas College as per schedule, and returned to his hotel in central Kolkata.
A video that emerged on social media showed the singer sweating profusely as he took a break to wipe his face. Another video showed him being rushed out of the venue.
KK's manager, Hitesh Bhat, said as the singer got into his car, he complained of mild uneasiness. "KK said that he was having cramp feeling in his limbs and also asked me to switch off the car AC," Bhat told reporters.
Even after returning to the hotel, KK obliged fans with selfies and took pictures with them. However, as KK entered his room and went to sit on the sofa, he collapsed, ABP Ananda reported.
"I couldn't even lift him... Then I alerted the hotel staff. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead," Hitesh Bhat told ABP Ananda. Kolkata Police has registered a case of unnatural death over the demise of KK.
Bhat also said the auditorium where KK performed was overcrowded. In fact, Nazrul Mancha has a seating capacity of 2,463. However, security guards claimed there were more than 6,000 spectators at the event, ABP Ananda reported.
The security guards acknowledged that the situation got out of hand as several spectators tried to barge inside and scaled the wall. The doors of the auditorium had come off their hinges. Some students, unable to get inside, started throwing bricks and bamboo pieces from Gate number 3, ABP Ananda quoted eyewitnesses as saying. Five of the six gates of Nazrul Mancha had to be opened to control the crowd, it is learnt.
The venue was so overcrowded that authorities resorted to spraying fire extinguishers to control the crowd. "There was very much a huge crowd. People were jumping over the barricade and gate. However, nothing happened inside the auditorium. He (KK) was feeling unwell. He took a break and performed again," ANI quoted a staff member as saying.
TMC, BJP Engage In War Of Words
The chaos at KK's concert has triggered a political debate, with the opposition BJP blaming the Bengal administration for lapses and demanding an impartial probe, drawing a sharp retort from the ruling TMC.
BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said there was a complete lapse on the part of the administration to ensure proper security arrangements.
"Around 7,000 people were reportedly present at the venue of the programme where the seating capacity was around 3,000 people. He was mobbed there, which means security arrangements were not in place for a VIP," Bhattacharya said.
TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said the BJP should stop its "vulture politics" and should not politicise an unfortunate incident.
"His death is really unfortunate, and all of us are really sad about it. But what the BJP is doing is not at all expected. The saffron camp should stop its vulture brand of politics. They should stop politicising death. We won't be astonished if BJP starts claiming that KK was their party leader," PTI quoted Kunal Ghosh as saying.