Prayers and tears flow outside Apollo hospital

Scores of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam workers on Monday gathered at the Apollo Hospitals, where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment after suffering cardiac arrest, with some wailing and other looking dejected over the news of the deterioration in their leader's health.

Party workers from several districts like Parimala of Tiruvannamalai and Subramanian of North Chennai, who arrived at the hospital, said that "We are waiting. We are confident that we will get good news soon."

Some people milling around the hospital premises, including AIADMK workers, were seen praying seeking divine intervention so that their party supremo Jayalalithaa recovers.

68-year-old Jayalalithaa has been put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a heart assist device, and was under the watch of experts, including cardiologists.

State ministers, including senior Minister P Thangamani, and other top AIADMK functionaries like B Valarmathi, who arrived at the hospital earlier, left for a brief while and returned.

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan enquired about Jayalalithaa's health with hospital authorities and AIADMK leaders.

Rajini, an elder woman party worker from Jayalalithaa's RK Nagar constituency, was seen praying fervently, tears flowing down her cheeks. She was joined by scores of party women workers from RK Nagar.

With more and more people reaching the premises and lining up the approach roads, it resulted in traffic congestion in the neighbourhood.

Police are having a tough time in regulating the crowd and ensuring that patients are not inconvenienced even as the hospital remained under tight security cover.

Though the state government has not announced closure of schools and educational institutions, some of them remained closed as the managements took a decision in this regard. Even in schools that were open, thin attendance was reported.

Shops and commercial establishments largely remained open, police said.

Many women, who gathered near the main gate of the hospital, could be seen praying fervently for the well-being of their Amma (mother), as she is fondly known among her supporters.

"I only hope to hear a good news about Amma's health. Right now, we are very tensed. I got the news about her heart attack one hour back and just arrived here," an AIADMK cadre said.

Some of the women held photographs of Jayalalithaa and raised slogans "Amma vaazhga, Puratchi thalaivi vaazhga!! (Long live Amma, Long live revolutionary leader)."

"Amma is our Rani of Jhansi. She has achieved what others cannot. We are all praying for her speedy recovery," said another supporter.

Jayalalithaa is now on special support systems for her heart and lungs, said Apollo Hospital in Chennai, where she was admitted on September 22.

In a series of tweets, Apollo said "She is on extracorporeal membrane heart assist device and is being treated by a team of expert doctors and critical care specialists."

Extracorporeal life support is provided to a patient in need of cardiac and respiratory support.

The hospital also said that a UK consultant who had flown down earlier to supervise the 68-year-old's treatment has been consulted about the line of care being provided to her now.

Apollo Hospital also asked the public to pray for the politician's urgent recovery.