india

Updated: Aug 16, 2018 00:37 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Wednesday evening after the health of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, admitted at the hospital since June, worsened.

“Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been admitted for the last nine weeks at AIIMS. Unfortunately, his condition has worsened over the last 24 hours. His condition is critical and he is on life support,” AIIMS said in a statement at 10.08 pm.

The former prime minister’s overall health had deteriorated after he suffered a stroke in 2009. He was admitted to AIIMS on June 11 with kidney tract infection, chest congestion, urinary tract infection and low urine output, indicating impaired kidney functions. He was put on slow dialysis to help his kidneys heal and is being treated in the intensive care unit of the cardio thoracic and neuro science tower at AIIMS since then.

Prime minister Modi arrived at AIIMS at 7:24 pm and spent close to half an hour reviewing the iconic BJP leader’s health with AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria and other doctors. This was PM Modi’s fourth visit to Vajpayee in the hospital since June.

Among other senior leaders who visited Vajpayee on Wednesday were Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Piyush Goyal and Smriti Irani, BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi and Union minister Arun Jaitley’s wife and daughter.

The 93-year-old BJP leader has diabetes, has one functional kidney and developed dementia after a stroke in 2009.