Hospital statement on M Karunanidhi's stable health puts rumours to rest

DMK chief M Karunanidhi's vital conditions are normalising after a transient setback in his medical condition, the Kauvery Hospital here said in a bulletin on Sunday night. Rumours about his death had triggered a panic among the party cadres, who gathered in a large number outside the hospital.

"There was a transient setback in the clinical condition of Karunanidhi. With active medical support, his vital signs are normalising. He continues to be closely monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors," the release said.

As an agitated crowd was adamant of staying back to know the DMA veteran's condition, former Union Minister A Raja said the DMK leader's condition indeed suffered a setback but his condition is now stable with the medical intervention. "Don't believe in any rumours. DMK leader's condition has improved," he said.

The police had to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse the party cadres beyond the barricades as they remained unconvinced and tried to enter the hospital.

Karunanidhi's family — including his sons Stalin, Azhagiri, Thamilasran and daughter Kanimozhi and her mother Rajathiammal — are already in the hospital, where he was admitted on the early hours of Saturday after his blood pressure dropped.

Over 3,000 policemen were deployed in and around the hospital, his Gopalapuram residence and key areas in the city on Sunday evening after the news of the deteriorating health of the DMK leader started coming in. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has cut short his tour to Salem and is heading for Chennai.

The first picture of Karunanidhi in the hospital bed was released on Sunday when Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu visited him. In the photograph, Naidu, alongwith the Governor, was looking at the 94-year-old DMK leader, who appears to be sleeping. The vital parameters reading in the photo imply that Karunanidhi's health is good.

His heart beat per minute stood at 94 against the normal reading between 60 and 100 while his respiration rate stood at 30 breaths per minute. The average breaths per minute for people over the age of 80 is between 10 and 30. Karunanidhi's blood oxygen level is at 97 millimetres of mercury against the normal value of 95 and 100.

Karunanidhi's photograph along with health indicators went viral on social media with many recalling his demand from the Tamil Nadu government to release the photo of the then chief minister, J Jayalalitha, when she was hospitalised to put to rest speculations over her health condition.

Besides Naidu, CPI (M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury; TMC leader, Derek O'Brien; BJP leader, Muralidhar Rao, and the party's Tamil Nadu unit party president, Tamilisai Soundararajan visited the Karunanidhi.

Before being moved to the hospital, the nonagenarian leader was suffering from fever and infection for the past few days and was being treated round-the-clock by a team of doctors and nursing personnel at his house. Karunanidhi fell ill in October 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy. The veteran leader was admitted to the hospital for "optimisation of nutrition and hydration" in the first week of December 2016 and later, due to a throat and lung infection.