“Indescribable grief” as J Jayalalithaa passes away on Dec 5 2016 

“It is with indescribable grief, we announce the sad demise of our esteemed Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Puratchi Thalaivi Amma at 11.30 pm today (5.12.2016).

Our Honourable Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa was admitted on 22.9.2016, with complaints of fever and dehydration and underlying co-morbidities. The Honourable Chief Minister responded well to the multi-disciplinary care in the Critical Care Unit and subsequently recovered substantially to being able to take food orally. On this basis, Honourable Chief Minister was shifted from the advanced Critical Care Unit to the High Dependency Unit, where her health and vitals continued to improve under the close monitoring by our expert panel of specialists.

Unfortunately, the Honourable Chief Minister suffered a massive cardiac arrest on the evening of the 4th December 2016, even while our intensivist was in her room. The Honourable Chief Minister was immediately administered resuscitation (CPR), and provided ECMO support within the hour. ECMO is the most advanced treatment currently available internationally. Every possible clinical attempt was made to sustain her revival. However despite our best efforts, the Honourable Chief Minister’s underlying conditions rendered her unable to recover and she passed away at 11.30 PM today (5.12.2016).

Every member of the Apollo Hospitals Family, the clinicians, the nursing and paramedical staff have strived hard to provide the highest standards of care to our beloved Chief Minister. We have worked tirelessly, combining the might of the clinical and technological resources at our command with the spirit of healing and compassion that inspires us. We join the nation and the people of the state of Tamil Nadu in deeply mourning her loss.

Issued by: Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.”

With these words, the death of Jayalalithaa Jayaram, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was announced to the world at midnight on December 5, 2016. Gloom settled over the deserted streets of Chennai, as the news spread that the Chief Minister was no more. Grief stricken AIADMK supporters wailed outside the Chief Minister’s home in Poes Garden. Her body will be placed at Rajaji Hall for the public to pay their last respects. Seven days state mourning has been announced in Tamil Nadu. Schools and colleges will remain closed across the state for three days. Tamil Nadu will have a new Chief Minister, O Paneerselvam. Jayalalithaa is gone, but her legacy and impact on Tamil Nadu’s politics will long outlive her.

Condolences began pouring in immediately from across the Indian political spectrum.

Also on National Herald:

Obituary: Jayalalithaa—The Iron Butterfly

Jayalalithaa Jayaram (1948-2016)—A life in pictures