The US Consulate General in Chennai temporarily suspended appointments for routine services.
Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa is reported to have undergone a surgery on Monday morning after she suffered a massive cardiac arrest on Sunday evening. Doctors are closely monitoring the condition and thousands of her followers gathered outside the hospital continues to pray for the recovery of their Puratchi Thalaivi.
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.
The centre rushed a special team of doctors from Delhi AIIMS and police in Chennai cordoned off major streets as news spread of the chief minister’s poor health.
“We have sent a team from Delhi AIIMS to Chennai. They (Apollo Hospitals) needed doctors and we have sent them that. The government is doing whatever is possible for us. We hope and pray for Jayalalithaa’s speedy recovery,” Union health minister JP Nadda told to ANI.
Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who is also the Governor of Maharashtra, had flew to Chennai from Mumbai and had visited Apollo Hospitals on Sunday night.
Union minister from Tamil Nadu Pon Radhakrishnan arrived at Chennai airport on Monday morning, said all BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wished for a complete recovery of Jayalalithaa.
Following the development, Karnataka-TamilNadu bus service has been suspended and security has been beefed up near Kerala-Tamil Nadu border areas.
The US Consulate General in Chennai temporarily suspended appointments for routine services to US citizens and visa applicants.
In an emergency message, the Consulate General warned citizens to keep a vigil on the events happening around them and take proper measures to enhance their personal security.
“US citizens are reminded that even gatherings intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations,” the message read.
The actor-turned-politician and six-time chief minister, popularly known as ‘Amma’, was admitted to hospital more than two months ago with complaints of dehydration and high fever. She was declared completely fit late last month.