J Jayalalithaa
Jayalalithaa on Sunday suffered a cardiac arrest, her condition is said to be very critical at the moment. In picture: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.IANS File Photo

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa passed away at 11:30 p.m. on Monday, according to an official statement from the Apollo Hospitals. She had suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening. The CM had been undergoing treatment at the Chennai hospital since September 22. You can follow further live updates HERE.

See Jayalalithaa's rare and unseen pictures here

Following her cardiac arrest, the hospital had said in a statement: "She is being treated and monitored by a team of experts including cardiologists, pulmonologists and critical care specialists."

The hospital, in a series of tweets, had also said: "She is on extracorporeal membrane heart assist device and is being treated by a team of expert doctors and critical care specialists. Dr Richard Beale from London has also been consulted and he has concurred with the line of treatment by our cardiologists & pulmonologists."

Tamil Nadu ministers and Governor C Vidyasagar Rao were alerted in the evening itself after Jayalalithaa's health deteriorated.

"Five ministers, including Finance Minister O Panneerselvam, were already in Chennai. All other ministers who had gone to the districts over the weekend also started returning to Chennai. Governor Rao, who was attending the Navy Day function in Mumbai, boarded a flight to Chennai," an officer was quoted by the Indian Express (IE) as saying.

The Chennai Police also tightened security in and around Greams Road where the hospital is located. There were around 1,000 security personnel deployed outside the hospital at midnight. Police also resorted to lathi charge to control the crowd that had begun gathering outside Apollo. CRPF teams have also been put on high alert.

12:40 a.m. IST: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the demise of Jayalalithaa.

12:35 a.m. IST: A three-day holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu following Jayalalithaa's death.

12:30 a.m. IST: Scotching all previous speculation, O Panneerselvam has been elected the leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party. This means he will be the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

12:25 a.m. IST: Home Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed deep sadness at Jayalalithaa's death.

12: 15 a.m. IST: The Apollo Hospitals has announced that Jayalalithaa passed away at 11:30 p.m. on Monday.

12:10 a.m. IST: Chief minister's advisor Sheela Balakrishnan has also left Apollo Hospital,s iand is said to be headed for Poes Garden.

Meanwhile, O Panneerselvam has told AIADMK MLAs in the meeting that there is only one leader for them, and that is Jayalalithaa.

12:05 a.m. IST, December 6, 2016: Apollo Hospitals Chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy and Tamil Nadu chief secretary have left the hospital.

11:55 p.m. IST: A convoy of vehicles -- part of the chief minister's convoy -- has entered the Apollo Hospitals, whose gates have been shut. The convoy has been kept on the ready.

11:50 p.m. IST: Union minister Venkaiah Naidu is expected to meet governor C Vidyasagar Rao soon.

11:40 p.m. IST: Local reports are claiming that roads from the Apollo Hospitals to Poes Garden, the official residence of Jayalalithaa, have been cleared and lined with policemen. Cops have also been deployed near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where some activity has been witnessed.

11:24 p.m. IST:

11:18 p.m. IST:

11:16 p.m. IST: Senior AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam reaches party headquarters in Chennai.

11:04 p.m. IST:

10:30 p.m. IST: "Meeting of AIADMK MLAs could be held later tonight or even in the morning," C Ponnaiyan told the media adding that Jayalalithaa was responding well to treatment.

10 p.m. IST: Schools and colleges are open on Tuesday, NDTV reported.

9:56 p.m. IST: 

9:50 p.m. IST: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu briefs Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jayalalithaa's health condition, reports PTI.

9:32 p.m. IST: Hundreds of AIADMK workers are still outside Chennai's Apollo Hospital despite heavy police presence and barricades.

8:50 p.m. IST: At least 6000 police personnel have been deployed across Chennai to prevent any untoward incident, the Indian Express reported.

8:42 p.m. IST: AIADMK spokesperson C Ponnaiyan told NDTV that the party meeting at its headquarters has been indefinitely postponed. The MLAs will be ratifying a succession plan just in case Jayalalithaa's condition worsens.

8:40 p.m. IST: The Hindu reports that all evening shows and night shows have been cancelled in theatres across Chennai. This would result in huge losses for the Tamil film industry as well.

8:39 p.m. IST: Doctors will review her condition around 10 p.m. Neurologists are keeping a close watch on her condition, NDTV reported.

8:38 p.m. IST: C Ponnaiyan told NDTV that there was no talk of who would succeed Jayalalithaa. The AIADMK party meet has also been postponed.

8:25 p.m. IST: 

"Jayalalithaa ji is a woman of extraordinary courage and has a vast reservoir of strength. In the past she has gone through extremely difficult circumstances and challenges. We are confident that she will be able to overcome this difficult situation as well," Congress spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi said.

He added that Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi have expressed concern on Jayalalithaa's health and have wished her "a speedy recovery."

"People across the country are praying for her recovery," Gogoi said.

7:50 p.m. IST: All petrol pumps and shops are currently shut in Chennai. People are choosing to stay indoors, fearing untoward incidents. 

7:45 p.m. IST: It seems Jayalalithaa is showing some response to the treatment regimen the doctors have prescribed her. 

7:09 p.m. IST: AIADMK party meeting underway at their headquarters in Chennai.

Venkaiah Naidu has left the Apollo Hospital after enquiring about Jayalalithaa's health.

6:30 p.m. IST: All kinds of public transport are off roads in Chennai. Only Metro trains are functioning. Private taxi services like Uber and Ola are also off roads.

6:22 p.m. IST:

6:11 p.m. IST:

6:07 p.m. IST: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu has reached Apollo Hospital.

6:05 p.m. IST:

6:01 p.m. IST: Apollo Hospital has denied several media reports that falsely claimed that Jayalalithaa is dead and said that she continues to be on life support.

5:48 p.m. IST:

5:45 p.m. IST: There were initial reports which suggested that Jayalalithaa died on Monday. However, Apollo Hospital has denied all such reports claiming that she is still alive. Apollo Hospital Executive Director Sangita Reddy told NDTV that Jayalalithaa is still alive.

5:40 p.m. IST:

5:27 p.m. IST: The Chennai Police Commissioner has reached Apollo Hospital and directed all police officers to be on duty until further orders.

Meanwhile, people of Tamil Nadu are rushing to departmental stores and other shops to buy essential items and keep it as stock worried that everything will be shut on Tuesday. People are also rushing to ATMs to withdraw cash.

5:08 p.m. IST: "Our team of expert doctors continue to closely monitor and treat the honourable Chief Minister. However, her condition remains critical," says Apollo Hospital on Twitter.

5:05 p.m. IST: AIADMK meeting at 6 pm at the party headquarters in Chennai.

4:50 p.m. IST: In an apparent succession plan, 135 MLAs back O Panneerselvam as the next CM and also sign declaration, Times Now reported quoting sources.

4:49 p.m. IST: Team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi have arrived in Chennai to treat Jayalalithaa.

4:32 p.m. IST:

4:31 p.m. IST:

4:16 p.m. IST: "She (Jayalalithaa) detained me under POTA, but apart from politics I treat her like sister. She will come out of this crisis. The best medical treatment has been given, we should not speculate anything. I wish she will come out of danger... Jaya has successfully battled septicemia. She is a fighter... Lakhs of her cadres and the people of Tamil Nadu want her to recover fully and are praying for her," Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko said.

4:05 p.m. IST:

4 p.m. IST:

3:42 p.m. IST: "She is being cared for by a highly expert multidisciplinary team and is now on extra corporal life support. This is the most advanced level of support available, and is an approach that best centres internationally would take in this situation," Dr Richard Beale said.

3:36 p.m. IST: "Situation extremely grave, but can confirm everything possible being done to give her best chance of surviving," Dr Richard Beale from London was quoted by ANI as saying.

3:30 p.m. IST: Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao reaches Apollo Hospital.

3:20 p.m. IST: "Despite our best efforts, our beloved CM remains in a grave situation," executive director of Apollo Group Sangita Reddy said on Twitter.

3:05 p.m. IST: According to reports, parents have been asked to take their children home from school early.

3 pm IST: AIADMK MLAs were called to Apollo Hospital and asked to sign a declaration. According to media reports, they were told to take two names as Jayalalilthaa's successor, one of them being O Paneerselvam.

1:41 p.m. IST:

1:13 p.m. IST:

12:54 p.m. IST: "The Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who suffered a cardiac arrest yesterday evening, continues to be very critical. She is on ECMO and other life support systems. The Honourable Chief Minister is being treated and closely monitored by a team of experts," a statement issued by Apollo Hospital read.

12:10 p.m. IST: Tamil Nadu Congress chief Thirunavukkarasar told the media that Jayalalithaa's health is stable and that she is out of danger, the IE reported.

12:05 p.m. IST:

11:35 a.m. IST:

11:33 a.m. IST: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu will be travelling to Chennai on Monday to enquire about Jayalalithaa's condition.

11:30 a.m. IST: "Did not see her (Jayalalithaa) but on enquiry, I was informed that she is undergoing treatment and is stable," Tamil Nadu Congress Chief Thirunavukkarasar was quoted by ANI as saying.

11:15 a.m. IST: Buses from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka have been temporarily suspended. Additional security forces have been deployed at Attibele border, ANI reported.

11:14 a.m. IST: "If Tamil Nadu requires help we are willing. Home Minister will put forces on standby. Can't intervene on our own," Minister of State Kiren Rijiju told the media.

11:06 a.m. IST:

10:58 a.m. IST:

10:41 a.m. IST: Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to Tamil Nadu governor who informs him that there is no law and order situation in the state.

10:36 a.m. IST: A team of four doctors -- pulmonologist Dr GC Khilnani, anaesthetist Dr Anjan Trikha, cardiac surgeon Dr Sachin Talwar and cardiologist Dr Rajiv Narang -- from AIIMS Delhi have left for Chennai to treat Jayalalithaa.

10:33 a.m. IST: AIADMK member from Cuddalore district (Gandhi Nagar) dies after hearing about Jayalalithaa's condition on Sunday night, reports ANI.

10:23 a.m. IST: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu speaks to Tamil Nadu governor and chief secretary about Jayalalithaa's condition, ANI reported.

10:17 a.m. IST: Union Minister P Radhakrishnan leaves the hospital after enquiring about Jayalalithaa's health.

9:54 a.m. IST: US Consulate Chennai has temporarily suspended its daily services to American citizens and visa applicants. The consulate will have a few staff members working today. It has also issued an advisory to US citizens that includes helpline numbers.

9:47 a.m. IST: "We are in regular touch with Apollo Hospital and the Tamil Nadu government and have also sent a team from Delhi AIIMS to Chennai. They needed doctors and we have sent them that. The government is doing whatever possible. We hope and pray for Jayalalithaa's speedy recovery," Union Health Minister JP Nadda told ANI.

9:44 a.m. IST: AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswati told Times Now that the doctors are sure Jayalalithaa will recover soon.

9:40 a.m. IST: School and colleges open in Tamil Nadu. Taxi aggregators are also not plying today.

9:36 a.m. IST: Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP Rajya Sabha MP La Ganesan reach Apollo Hospital to enquire about Jayalalithaa's health, ANI reported.

There are over 1,000 supporters gathered outside the hospital praying for Jayalalithaa's recovery.

9:34 a.m. IST: All buses travelling from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu have been suspended. There are hardly any auto rickshaws or buses plying on the roads in Chennai.

All AIADMK MLAs have been called for a meeting at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, according to media reports.

9:30 a.m. IST: All Tamil Nadu MPs have rushed to Chennai.

9:09 a.m. IST:

An emergency cabinet meeting is currently underway at the Apollo Hospital.

9:07 a.m. IST: 

9:05 a.m. IST:

9:01 a.m. IST:

The Tamil Nadu government has asked the Centre to keep paramilitary forces and RAF teams on reserve so that they can be rushed to the state in case of an emergency, the Indian Express (IE) reported.

8:35 a.m. IST:

The Chennai traffic police has blocked roads leading to Apollo hospital to avoid traffic congestion as followers of the AIADMK chief gather outside the hospital.

8:26 a.m. IST:

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has temporarily stopped bus services to Tamil Nadu after an incident of stone pelting on their bus was reported near Tiruvannamalai - KSRTC PRO told ANI.

8:25 a.m. IST:

The police have cordoned off Jayalalithaa's residence, according to media reports.

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