Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who has been in hospital since September 22, suffered a cardiac arrested on Sunday, according to a news statement released by the Apollo Hospital.
The hospital said she was being treated by a team of cardiologists, pulmonologists and critical care specialists. No further details were provided. Earlier on Sunday, the hospital had said that the chief minister’s health was improving.
Reports had been circulating in Chennai that the CM was critical and had been moved to the ICU. Some news reports said she was being treated ECMO or extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, under which the heart and lung functions are managed outside the body. Jayalalithaa has been on respiratory support since her hospitalization and was said to have developed complications on Sunday evening.
Several ministers and top officials rushed to the hospital and an emergency meeting was called by the police on Sunday evening. Police forces were also put on an alert. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao also rushed to Tamil Nadu.