The US Consulate General in Chennai issued an advisory on Monday urging its citizens to review their “personal security plans” and remain “aware of surroundings”, in the wake of a cardiac arrest suffered by CM J Jayalalithaa on Sunday evening.

The statement cautioned citizens not to be in areas of demonstrations as “even gatherings intended to be peaceful” can turn “confrontational and escalate into violence”.

It asked its citizens to maintain a “high level of vigilance” and monitor news updates from local media.  

The same advisory by the Consulate said that the Chennai consulate has temporarily suspended routine appointments and will operate with reduced staffing.

The Consulate General also gave out a number to reach in case of any emergency. In case of a situation that the call fails to get a response, the statement gave the number of emergency services of the US Embassy Delhi.

US Citizens were also urged to read further information about security in India by visiting the US State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and India Country Specific Information.

US citizens were also encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler-Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Situations on Monday morning continued to remain tense in Chennai and other parts of the state since the announcement of Jayalalithaa’s cardiac arrest on Sunday evening.

A state of high alert was sounded and state police had erected several more barricades inside the main gate of the hospital to avoid untoward incidents.

AIADMK party cadres who gathered at the hospital in hundreds, breached security barricades set up by the police and reached the main gate of the hospital late on Sunday night. 

According to sources in the police department, the entire TN police force has been mobilized to prevent any untoward incident and maintain law and order since Sunday evening. 

Read the statement here.