Jayalalithaa dead: Tamil Nadu CM passes away at 68 after suffering cardiac arrest

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is dead, according to news agency PTI. This was announced early Monday morning after her health deteriorated on Sunday night. She was 68. A statement from Apollo Hospitals had said yesterday that the CM suffered a cardiac arrest and medical specialists from UK and Delhi were being consulted to ensure the best possible care in the treatment was taken. Top experts cardiologists, pulmonologist and critical care specialists were attending to Jayalalithaa. Just hours before that, AIAADMK statement had said that the CM was feeling well and her discharge would happen soon. In the wake of the announcement on Sunday, the police and other security forces had been deployed across cities and other areas to ensure that no untoward incident happened. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had spoken to Governor Vidyasagar Rao. The governor had visited Apollo Hospitals for 15 minutes thereafter and went back to Raj Bhawan. Crowds in large numbers had gathered at the Apollo Hospitals in order to be near where their leader was being treated from September 22 – in the beginning it was reported that the CM was suffering from dehydration.

Condolence messages have been pouring out from political leaders and the public at large on the social media expressing their sorrow at what has transpired. The huge crowds gathered at the Apollo Hospitals are crying ceaselessly ever since the final announcement was made.

Women in huge numbers had gathered at the hospital and they broke down when news of the tragedy was conveyed to them. Police have put up barricades in the vicinity and security presence is heavy not just in arterial roads near the hospital, but across all areas in the state seen as sensitive. The same situation prevails in neighbouring Karnataka where security is on alert too.