Chennai: M Karunanidhi, DMK president and former Tamil Nadu chief minister, died at a private hospital in Chennai on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 94.
The Kauvery Hospital said Karunanidhi died at 6.10pm. “Despite the best possible efforts by our team of doctors and nurses to resuscitate him, he failed to respond,” said the hospital in a statement, expressing “deep anguish”.
An ambulance is being readied to take Karunanidhi’s body to his home in Chennai’s Gopalapuram, where DMK workers and leaders have gathered. As many as 6,500 police personnel have been deployed in Chennai and superintendents of police in all districts have been asked to keep forces ready to maintain peace. Chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and Director General of Police T K Rajendran met Chief Minister E Palaniswami earlier in the day to review arrangements for Karunanidhi’s final rites.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter he was “deeply saddened” by Karunanidhi’s death. “We have lost a deep-rooted mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwart whose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised,” he said.