Playback Singer KK Dead at 53: Post-Mortem Points At Cardiac Arrest

Kolkata Heart Foundation chairman Dr. Kunal Sarkar weighs in on playback singer KK's death.

KK passed away at the age of 53 in Kolkata.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

The sudden death of popular playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, from a cardiac arrest after a performance in Kolkata on 31 May 2022, came as a shock to many fans and friends.

The 53-year-old playback singer and musician was known for his tracks such as Pal and Yaaro. Doctors attributed KK's death to a cardiac arrest after a preliminary post mortem report.

FIT Hindi spoke to Dr. Kunal Sarkar, the chairman of Kolkata Heart Foundation, asking him about what could have happened.

While the post-mortem report reveals that a cardiac arrest may have caused KK's death, Dr. Sarkar says that other factors may have exarcebated the situation. “The auditorium at KK's concert was overcrowded. 7,000 people were gathered in the auditorium which reportedly has a maximum capacity of 2,000 people."

"Maybe they needed better ventilation in the auditorium, and the weather in Kolkata is very humid. I feel that the environment in which KK had to perform may not have been right."

Dr Kunal Sarkar, Chairman, Kolkata Heart Foundation

We've mentioned in the past what could happen if the body overheats and experiences dehydration, especially in humid weather.

Your body's internal temperature is maintained at 36.8 °C. If the outside temperature rises or falls your body tries to compensate for the change in temperature.

But the body can only compensate upto a certain extent. Beyond this point, the body will experience fatigue, dehydration, sodium imbalance, cramps, confusion, nausea, dizziness, and even a heat-induced coma or heatstroke if left untreated.

Dr. Sarkar adds that, "From what I've heard of the reports, there were a crucial two-three hours, which were spent trying to understand the situation and not taking KK directly to the hospital, and instead taking him to the hotel."

"The concert was taking place in South Kolkata and from there KK was reportedly brought to the North Kolkata hotel, about 10 km away. Which makes little sense. There were many good hospitals on the way, where they could have received medical intervention immediately. But this was not done."

Dr Kunal Sarkar, Chairman, Kolkata Heart Foundation

"After waiting for an hour at the hotel, they were reportedly taken to the hospital and even that allegedly wasn't a hospital close to the hotel. The whole incident is very unfortunate. It's a huge tragedy, which probably could have been prevented. It is also a case of mismanagement."

A preliminary report following the post-mortem stated that KK's death was a result of a cardiac arrest.