Jayaram Jayalalithaa, one of India's most powerful and popular politicians, died at a hospital in Chennai yesterday, a day after she suffered a cardiac arrest, doctors said.
Jayalalithaa, 68, chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, was a patient at Apollo Hospital in Chennai since September after she was diagnosed with an acute respiratory infection.
She suffered a "massive" cardiac arrest on Sunday evening and was put on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation device, or ECMO, a life-support system that supports heart and lung functioning.
"However despite our best efforts, the honourable chief minister's underlying conditions rendered her unable to recover and she passed away at 11.30pm today Dec 5, 2016 (2am today Malaysian time)," a statement by the Apollo Hospitals said.
Domestic media reported that Jayalalithaa's body will be taken to her residence at the city's Poes Garden, where many of her weeping supporters were gathering.
Top Indian leaders condoled Jayalalithaa's passing.
"Deeply saddened at the passing away of Jayalalithaa. Her demise has left a huge void in Indian politics," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.
In his condolence message, President Pranab Mukherjee said India "has lost an icon who was loved and admired by millions".
Known as "Amma" or "mother," film star-turned-politician Jayalalithaa was an iconic figure in Tamil Nadu and almost worshipped by her supporters. She had been elected chief minister of the state four times.
Security forces have been on high alert across Chennai and the state as a precaution against violent or self-harming protests by her supporters.
When she was arrested in a corruption case in 2014, hundreds of her supporters shaved their heads, a ritual associated with mourning. Violent protests had broken out in the region and 16 people had reportedly committed suicide to protest her imprisonment.
Over the past several weeks, the Apollo Hospital had reported an improvement in Jayalalithaa's health and said she would be discharged soon. Her party had said she was making important government decisions from the hospital.
But hearing news about the deterioration in her health, thousands of Jayalalithaa's supporters camped outside the hospital since Sunday night. Many emotional supporters were seen praying outside the hospital as police erected barricades to avoid further congestion.
Earlier yesterday evening, after local TV channels wrongly declared her dead, a brief riot and scuffles between supporters and police were reported outside the hospital. The commotion subsided only when the hospital declared she was still alive.
Jayalalithaa's loyalist and senior party leader, O Paneerselvam, was sworn in as new chief minister of the state at the governor's house late in the night.
A week-long mourning period was declared in the state, and authorities said schools and colleges will be closed for three days.
- dpa
