Jaya suffers cardiac arrest, said to be critical

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was said to be critical late tonight after she suffered cardiac arrest in the hospital where she was admitted over two months ago.
"The honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who is undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals, suffered a cardiac arrest this evening," said a statement issued by Apollo Hospital where she was admitted on September 22.
"She is being treated and monitored by a team of experts, including cardiologists, pulmonologist and critical care specialists," Chief Operating Officer and head of transformation of Apollo Hospital Dr Subbaiah Viswanathan said in the statement.
Late around midnight, Apollo Hospital's Joint Managing Director Sangita Reddy tweeted: "The Apollo TN CM #Jayalalita is critical.Multi speciality team @hospitalsapollo trying everything including ecmo.Praying for her recovery."

Soon after the Apollo statement came, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and enquired about Jayalalithaa's health.
Rao, who is is also Governor of Maharashtra, rushed to Chennai from Mumbai and went to the hospital.

Ministers and top police officials also rushed to the hospital and informal consultations on the situation.
Heavy deployment of police was made at the hospital where thousands of supporters of 68-year-old 'Amma' and AIADMK cadre had gathered on hearing the news.
Police force has been put on alert throughout the state and all personnel have reportedly been asked to report to tehir respective stations by the morning.

President Pranab Mukherjee, DMK leader M Karunanidhi, his son and opposition leader K Stalin, Union Ministers, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Ministers and a host of leaders expressed concern over Jayalalithaa's health condition and wished her speedy recovery.
Earlier in the day, AIADMK spokesperson C Ponnaiyan told reporters, "The AIIMS doctors visited the hospital yesterday and after examining her (Jayalalithaa's) health, they shared the good news with us that Amma (as Jayalalithaa is fondly called by AIADMK cadre, meaning mother) has completely recovered."
Ponnaiyan said the Chief Minister was doing physical exercises, undergoing physiotherapy, and was having food on her own besides advising officers on issues related to government and party activities.

Jayalalithaa was hospitalised on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. The hospital, which had been issuing bulletins on her health status, had later said she was being treated for infection with respiratory support, among others.
Apollo Hospitals Chairman Dr C Prathap Reddy had recently said Jayalalithaa was in good health and was speaking using a valve attached to the tracheostomy tube.
Whole body physiotherapy was being done, he had said, adding that she was normally recuperating after being in bed for several weeks and would herself decide when to go home.