Kolkata: The Kolkata magician, 40-year-old Chanchal Lahiri, who had gone underwater tied in chains, is recovered dead. The magician had gone underwater to perform a live stunt, but alas, he could not come out of water freeing him from the ties and later in the day, police recovers his body.
More popular as "Jadugar Mandrake" (Wizard Mandrake), Lahiri had taken up a challenge that he will perform an underwater stunt and will free him from the chains that he had tied on his hands and legs. Notably, as stated by him before performing the stunt, he had performed a similar stunt 21 years ago and had successfully come out of water in 29 seconds.
Before going down into the water, Lahiri had said: "If I can open it up then it will be magic, but if I can't it will be tragic." Finally, it turned out to be a tragic incident only as the magician lost the battle of life and failed to untie him to swim back to the top.
The body of the magician was recovered in the Hooghly River who had gone underwater in a yellow and red costume. As stated by deputy commissioner of the port division of Kolkata police, Syed Waquar Raza, the body of the magician was recovered in the same state with his legs and his arms tightly bound.
After Lahiri vanished into the water, for some time the onlookers thought that his disappearance is a part of his trick and he will show up in no time. But unfortunately this did not happen and when he did not come out of water, immediately after which police launched a search operation.
Before performing the magic, the magician had taken permission but despite that, the concerned authority did not take any proper security measures.
For performing the magic, the magician was picked up from a boat by a crane and then lowered into the river. As was challenged by him, he had to untie himself on his own and come up.