Jayalalithaa's health: Pakistan media erroneously declares Tamil Nadu CM dead

Editor’s note: Jayalalithaa was actually declared dead at 11.30 pm on 5 December. Follow all the latest updates here . Jayalalithaa was erroneously declared dead, by two of Pakistan’s largest Urdu papers on Monday morning, according to a report by DNA.

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In a fresh statement, Apollo hospital and London specialist said that Jayalalithaa’s condition is indeed “very grave” and the best possible measures were being taken to aid her in this situation. [caption id=“attachment_3140796” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Jayalalithaa. PTI[/caption] According to an IANS report, AIADMK MLAs trooped to the hospital apparently to pick a successor. In quick succession, Apollo hospital released two statements saying Jayalalithaa, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, was on life support systems. The first of the statement came just after union Health Minister JP Nadda claimed that the actor-turned-politician, who has been in the hospital since September, was out of danger. The brief hospital statement said Jayalalithaa “continues to be very critical and is on ECMO and other life support systems”. And hours later, Apollo tweeted: “Despite our best efforts, our beloved CM remains in a grave situation.” ECMO or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a life support system used for patients with life-threatening heart or lung problems. Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa was on Monday said to be critical after she suffered a cardiac arrest in the hospital where she was admitted over two months ago. Apollo Hospitals, in a tweet late on Sunday night, said doctors were closely monitoring Jayalalithaa’s condition and trying their “very best”. A large number of AIADMK cadres, including women, anxiously stayed put outside the hospital, which has been covered in a thick blanket of security. Worried party supporters continued to pray for her recovery. While an IANS report claimed that normal life was not affected in Tamil Nadu, security has been beefed up across the state with the Tamil Nadu DGP ordering all police officers and personnel to report for duty by 7 am for deployment. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju even said the state may require extra forces, which the Home Ministry will be ready to put on standby “whenever” they are required. Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who arrived at the airport in Chennai on Monday morning, said all BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wished for a complete recovery of Jayalalithaa and they were praying for her. He expressed confidence that Jayalalithaa will soon recover and resume official duties. With inputs from agencies