Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, according to a press release by Apollo Hospital in Chennai, where she has been under critical care since September 22.
It has been 74 days since the CM was admitted to the hospital, and her medical condition is now ostensibly poor.
Hundreds of AIADMK supporters have gathered outside the Apollo Hospital to pray for her well-being.
So, what do we know so far about her health?
Jayalalithaa was in a critical condition on Sunday night, and we are awaiting information on her condition on Monday.
She had been shifted to the general ward a few days back, but now she is in the critical care unit. She is being attended to by a group of cardiologists, pulmonologists and critical care specialists.
She is now receiving treatment through ECMO, or extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. This is a process in which the functions of the heart and lungs are carried out outside the body. Performed with the use of a special machine, ECMO involves drawing blood out of large blood vessels into a pump and through an oxygenation chamber that removes the carbon dioxide, adds oxygen and returns the blood to the patient's body.
This could mean that Jayalalithaa’s lungs and/or heart are not fully functional.
Senior doctors from London and AIIMS in Delhi are being consulted.
Contrary to certain reports, no angiogram or angioplasty was done on her. This has been confirmed to The News Minute by sources in the CMO.
A new health bulletin is likely to be released by noon on Monday.
How safe is Chennai?
Chennai is safe, although some caution is recommended.
The police force in the state has been mobillised on a massive scale to prevent any untoward incident.
The security around Apollo hospital has been beefed up. Road blocks have been set up. Security has been improved near her house in Poes Garden also.
There have been some reports of isolated incidents of violence in the districts, but they have been contained.
The US Consulate has cancelled all its appointments today.
Although there is no official order on shutting down educational institutions, reports state that some of them have voluntarily shut down.
Some state buses plying to other states have been cancelled. Trains are on schedule.
Paramilitary forces have been asked to be on standby.