A statement from Apollo Hospitals had said yesterday that the CM suffered a cardiac arrest and medical specialists from UK and Delhi were being consulted to ensure the best possible care in the treatment was taken. (Reuters)

Even as some Tamil TV channels reported that J Jayalalithaa has passed away, Apollo Hospitals, where the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is undergoing treatment has denied the reports. “The Hon’ble Chief Minister continues to be on life support at the Apollo Hospitals. The Apollo Specialists and Specialists from the AIIMS are continually monitoring the Hon’ble Chief Minister very closely. Some TV channels are wrongly reporting that Hon’ble Chief Minister is no more. This is totally baseless and false. They are advised to rectify this mistake based on this Press Release,” Apollo Hospitals said in a statement. Some TV channels had reported the death of Jayalalithaa. What added to the confusion was the fact that AIADMK’s flag was lowered at the party headquarters in Royapettah. The flag has now been raised again.

The 68-year-old AIADMK supremo was admitted on September 22 after she had complained of fever and dehydration. An AIIMS team, comprising Dr G Khilnani, Professor, Department of Pulmonology Medicine, Dr Anjan Trikha, Professor of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care and Dr Nitish Nayak, Professor, Department of Cardiology, has been visiting the hospital regularly ever since. Earlier this year, J Jayalalithaa won a second consecutive term as the Tamil Nadu chief minister.

Press Release from Apollo Hospitals. pic.twitter.com/7sVymsox2W — AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) December 5, 2016

A large team of doctors from Apollo and AIIMS continue to provide all life saving measures. #GodblessAmma — Apollo Hospitals (@HospitalsApollo) December 5, 2016

Meanwhile, a clash between the crowd gathered outside the Apollo Hospital and the police were also seen as unconfirmed reports of Amma’s death surfaced through the local channel’s Twitter account. Men and Women in huge numbers have gathered at the hospital and they broke down when news of the tragedy was conveyed to them. Police have put up barricades in the vicinity and security presence is heavy not just in arterial roads near the hospital, but across all areas in the state seen as sensitive. The same situation prevails in neighbouring Karnataka where security is on alert too.