All times are according to Indian Standard Time
UPDATE 7.15 PM: Several TV channels in Tamil Nadu, including Sun TV and Tanti TV reported Jayalalitha is dead.
-- Violence breaks out in various part of Tamil Nadu
-- The Apollo Hospital denies the reports of her death and insists the chief minister is on life support.
_- Jaya TV, which is owned by Jayalalithaa, also reported news of her death. The party flag was flying half mast at the headquarters for a while before the hospital denied the news.
6:00 pm: Some local media had declared her dead. However, Apollo Hospital maintains that she is still fighting for life and is very critical.
2:00 pm: Apollo Hospital's Executive Director Sangita Reddy reveals that the Tamil Nadu CM is still in "grave situation".
12:56 pm: Apollo Hospital Spokesperson says Jayalalithaa is still very critical and on life support.
11:42 am: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu is scheduled to fly down to Chennai today to enquire about Jayalalithaa's health.
11:40 am: Tamil Nadu Congress chief Thirunavukkarasar said that he did not meet Jayalalithaa in the hospital but was informed that she is undergoing treatment and is stable now.
11:22 am:
11:08 am:
10:56 am: Times of India reports that security has been beefed up along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border to avoid any kind of Unrest. Security has also been tightened in Sabarimala temple in Kerala's Pathanamthitta District.
10:42 am: Tamil Nadu governor informs Home Minister Rajnath Singh that there is no law and order situation in the state.
10:34 am:
10: 24am: AIADMK lawmakers have called for a meeting at 11 am at the party headquarter in Chennai.
10:14 am: After an incident of stone pelting at a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus near Tiruvannamalai, all bus services to Tamil Nadu have been stopped.
10:12 am: JP Nadda informs that a team of renowned cardiologists, including Dr Narang, Dr Talwar, Dr Trehan and Dr Trikha, has left for Chennai.
10:11 am:
9:57am: Union Health Minister JP Nadda assures that the central government is in regular touch with Apollo hospital and Tamil Nadu government.
9:40 am: Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha MP L. Ganesan ( who represents Tiruchirappalli constituency) and Union Minister P. Radhakrishnan reach the hospital to enquire about Jayalalithaa's health.
9:35 am: The Financial Express reported that AIADMK claims Jayalalithaa had gone through a surgery on Monday morning.
9:00 am: Police have barricaded the road outside Apollo hospital as hundreds of well-wishers pour in. Traffic disrupted.
8:35 am: Indian cricketer took to twitter to extend his prayers for the Chief Minister's quick recovery.
8:15 am: Indian chess Grandmaster urges people to remain calm and not to spread rumours.
8:00 am: Doctors from All India Insitute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Delhi, have been rushed to Tamil Nadu for her treatment.
Tamil Nadu is bracing for the worst after Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday, sending the tenuous political condition into a tailspin. After the Apollo hospital in Chennai confirmed the long-ailing Ammas suffered a cardiac arrest rumours of her death started circulating widely.
Also read: J Jayalalithaa health update: Tamil Nadu CM is "progressing well", says governor
Giving a hint about the gravity of the situation, the government machinery switched on to an unprecedented alert mode. Heavy security has been clamped down across the capital Chennai and the area around the Apollo hospital has been under total security lockdown. Section 144 banning assembly of people has been put into effect and schools and commercial establishments have been shut down. Universities have postponed examinations and the public have been advised to stay indoor.
The paramilitary has been called into action anticipating outbreak of violence fueled by rumours about the leader's death. Senior political leaders from New Delhi's central government have trooped down on Chennai and the state governor, C. Vidyasagar Rao, who was in Mumbai, dashed off to capital Chennai. Tamil Nadu opposition leader and Jayalalithaa's political foe MK Stalin has been asked to return to the capital. The security around DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi has been beefed up in anticipation of security issues.
Overview
According to a press release from Hospital, Jayalalitha suffered a cardiac arrest at around 4:30pm IST on 4 December. It was also reported that critical care physician Dr. Richard Beale from London, who had been treated her earlier, was consulted on Sunday evening after her condition was declared critical.
Also read: As mystery surrounds Indian leader Jayalalithaa's health, deputy takes over
The 68-year-old leader was admitted to the private hospital on 22 September, 2016 after she complained of fever and dehydration. While the doctors insisted that her condition was stable in the next few days, the ruling party of the state All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) tweeted on 27 September that she had convened a meeting at the hospital to discuss an inter-state water dispute issue.
While rumours about her health were being spread, opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo Karunanidhi demanded the government to release photographs of the chief minister to put an end to all speculations. On 6 October, Apollo came up with another release, which for the first time said the CM was "on respiratory support, nebulisation, drugs to decongest the lungs, antibiotics, nutrition, general nursing care and supportive therapy".
Meanwhile, the government of Tamil Nadu later in the month announced that Jayalalithaa was not yet fit to assume office and Finance Minister O Panneerselvam will handle eight of her departments. Police were also cracking down on people who were spreading rumours as the frequent updates on her health condition were not released by the hospital.
However, as recently as 16 November, Jayalalithaa herself released a statement saying she had taken rebirth and thanked her well-wishers for their prayers. The mood in the AIADMK camp was bright on Sunday morning as the news came that the chief minister had recovered fully and would be discharged from the hospital soon.
Also read: Goddess-like Indian politician Jayalalithaa talks about rebirth after 50 days in ICU
Twitter reacts
Leaders and well-wishers took to the social media platform to extend their good wishes and pray for the Tamil Nadu leader's quick recovery.
