Jayalalithaa Health Critical After Cardiac Arrest; Tamil Nadu Gripped In Grief And Tension 

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister, Puracchi Talaivi J. Jayalalithaa, who has been undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai since September 22, suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening.

"She is being treated and monitored by a team of experts, including pulmonologists, cardiologists and critical care specialists," a press release issued by hospital COO Subbiah Viswanathan said.

With thousands of Jayalalithaa’s fans gathering at the hospital by Monday morning, tensions prevailed all over Chennai city and other parts of Tamil Nadu. Heavy security arrangements are made around the hospital. Central para-military forces are deployed and all businesses, schools and offices closed in the area.

Jayalalithaa was hospitalised on September 22 with fever and dehydration. She was later moved into the intensive care unit and put on ventilator for lung congestion.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to enquire about her health.

President Pranab Mukharjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a several leaders tweeted wishing a speedy recovery of Jayalalithaa.

YSR Congress Party president YS Jagag Mohan Reddy wished Jayalalithaa a speedy recovery:

It may be recalled that the ailing leader was reported to have recovered completely on Saturday and the ruling AIADMK confirmed on Sunday morning that she would be discharged in a day or two. An AIIMS expert team has confirmed that she has completely recovered. The AIIMS doctors visited the hospital on Saturday and after examining her health, they shared the good news with us that has completely recovered, the party spokesman C. Ponnaiyan said in the morning.

However, Jaya developed heart attack at 6pm and was rushed back to ICU.

The team, comprising Dr G Khilnani, Professor, Department of Pulmonology Medicine, Dr Anjan Trikha, Professor of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care and Dr Nitish Nayak, Professor, Department of Cardiology, has been visiting the hospital regularly ever since the 68-year-old AIADMK supremo was admitted on September 22.

Ponnaiyan said the Chief Minister was doing physical exercises and undergoing physiotherapy, was eating food on her own and advising officers on issues related to government and party activities.

Currently, she is undertaking physical exercises as she has been in hospital for more than 60 days. Specialists from Mount Elizabeth hospital (Singapore) are also providing physiotherapy to her. She will return home soon, he said.

Jayalalithaa was hospitalised on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. The hospital, which had been issuing bulletins on her health status, has said she was being treated for infection.

Apollo Hospitals Chairman Dr C Prathap Reddy had recently said that Jayalalithaa was in good health and was speaking using a valve attached to the tracheotomy tube.