Asheem Chakravarty, the percussionist/vocalist and one of the oldest members of popular contemporary fusion music band ‘Indian Ocean’ reportedly suffered a heart attack in Doha last Tuesday, and his condition is better now, band members said today.

Chakravarty’s wife Sunita left for Doha today. Dhruv Jagasia, manager for the band and a close associate of the singer, said: “Chakravarty is a little better now... he is not as critical.”

According to band members, Chakravarty is admitted at Hamad Medical Centre in Doha. The band was returning from a 15-city US concert tour when the incident occurred, they said.

Amit Kilam, the band’s drummer, said: “It was so sudden that none of us had any chance to react — we were all clueless. We think it was a mild heart attack that got serious later. We are hoping for the best.”

Kilam is now back in the Capital after being with Chakravarty for some time.

Rahul Ram, the band’s bass guitarist and among its more prominent faces, said: “We (band members) were at different places in the airport and, suddenly, the next thing we know is Asheem had collapsed... When he could not be revived at the airport’s medical room, he was rushed to Hamad Medical Centre.”

Chakravarty is referred to as ‘a man with a golden voice’, who sings and plays the tabla simultaneously without any formal training. He also plays the traditional Indian percussion instruments, including the tabla and tarang, in the band.

Ram said, “We were helped a lot by the Indian embassy there and authorities who made sure that Asheem’s wife reaches Doha without any further snag. I am amazed by the kind of help we received from people we had no clue about.

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