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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s health worsens, she had cardiac arrest on Sunday evening

Jayalalithaa ’Very Critical’ After Cardiac Arrest; Supporters, Police Outside Hospital

Chennai:  J Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, continues to be in very critical condition this morning after she had a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening at Chennai’s Apollo hospital, where she has been since September, being treated for an acute lung infection.The 68-year-old leader was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit or ICU last evening and doctors said she had been put on an extracorporeal membrane heart assist device, a life support system that aids heart and lung functioning. Critical care specialists are monitoring her.

The hospital has not put out a medical update this morning, but sources at the hospital said the chief minister is in a "very critical" condition. "She is being treated and monitored by a team of experts, including cardiologists, pulmonologist and critical care specialists," said Dr Subbaiah Viswanathan of Apollo Hospital last night.

Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao flew back to Chennai from Maharashtra, which is also in his charge, on Sunday evening after a conversation with union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Mr Rao visited the hospital and was there for about 10 minutes. He has made no statement since but he reportedly briefed the Home Minister.

Crowds gather outside Apollo hospital on Monday to learn about Jayalalithaa’s health.

Tamil Nadu’s ministers converged at the hospital and many of them were there overnight. Ministers and lawmakers from Ms Jayalalithaa’s party the AIADMK who were out of the state have flown back.

Hundreds of supporters of "Amma", as she is known to millions of her fans, have gathered outside to pray for her. There is massive police deployment and the area has been barricaded. Police across the state are on high alert and the entire force was asked to report to duty at 7 am today.

The police have asked people to not believe rumours and said law and order is under control.   

The Press Trust of India reported on Sunday night that nine units of riot police, each with about 100 members, were being prepped to be flown into Tamil Nadu, if needed.

On Saturday, the AIADMK had said Ms Jayalalithaa had been declared fully recovered by a team of doctors from Delhi’s prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences or AIIMS and would decide when to return.

For several weeks the hospital reported much improvement in Ms Jayalalithaa’s health and that she could decide when to be discharged. Her party said she was directing important decisions and begun speaking.

When she was first hospitalised on September 22, her party said she had dehydration and fever and would be out of hospital soon. But as weeks went by doctors said she had an acute lung infection and was on respiratory support. A specialist from London and doctors from AIIMS have been involved in her treatment.

Top political leaders like Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and union minister Venkaiah Naidu have visited the hospital as have senior opposition leaders from the state like the DMK’s MK Stalin. No one, however, met the chief minister.

In October, the governor had handed charge of the eight ministries Ms Jayalalithaa personally supervised to the Tamil Nadu’s finance minister O Panneerselvam, who has also been heading cabinet meetings.