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The government today announced seven-day state mourning as a mark of respect for the former prime minister.
In a circular, the Home Ministry also said national flag would be flown at half mast from today for seven days across India and a state funeral would be accorded to Vajpayee. "As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, it has been decided that seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout India from August 16-22, both days inclusive.
"During this period, the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout India where it is regularly flown and there will be no official entertainment during the period of the state mourning," the Home Ministry said.Vajpayee passed away at the AIIMS here this evening at the age of 93 due to prolonged illness. -- PTI
Franklin, who was set to retire from live music in February 2019, last performed live last November at Elton John's annual AIDS Foundation gala. She confirmed her retirement to Cassimy while simultaneously announcing plans to work on a new record with Stevie Wonder.
"He loved to eat, particularly, the sea food. I remember during our visit to the Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam in 2001, we were served with exotic Vietnamese cuisine at a banquet hosted in his honour, that had a huge variety of sea food.
"I was sitting at a little distance from Vajpayeeji, who was on a high table with Vietanamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.We were served a huge lobster.
"While I struggled to eat that, I saw Vajpayeeji happily enjoying his meal, and the lobster. He tried everything on the table and continued eating till the last, even though his host Vietnamese PM had finished eating much before him.It was generally believed that way to Vajpayeeji's heart was through his stomach.
"So, whenever any of the Indian ambassadors wanted to get into his good books, they would fly best chefs to cook for him. It happened in Malaysia in 2001, I remember.Vajpayeeji was also a nature lover. At a cliff in Bali (Indonesia), where he had gone to attend the ASEAN Summit in 2003, Vajpayee stood silently for a long time watching the water of Indian and Pacific Ocean splashing the hills down. He then turned towards me and said, "Look Premji, how the two oceans meet!" And then we watched the scenic beauty together for a while from that hill top.
Coming to the administrator's side of Vajpayeeji, I must say, he was a tough negotiator, and had the nerve to beat Pakistan's then President Pervez Musharraf in the game of brinkmanship. Islamabad has always tried to outplay India on the issue of Kashmir. But with Vajpayeeji, it was clear to them that there was no chance.
In Agra in 2001, when Musharraf tried playing this brinkmanship card with Vajpayeeji, I was praying and hoping that India does not surrender to the pressure.
And, I felt very good when Vajpayeeji gave a terse reply to Musharraf and made him go back empty-handed. Musharraf packed his bag, cancelled his pilgrimage to Ajmer Sharif Dargah and left India. That was the power of this man. -- Prem Kishan/ANI
The mortal remains will be taken to the BJP headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road , at 10am on Friday, where it will lie for people to pay their final respects till 1:30 pm. The final rites will take place near Rajghat at Smriti Sthal 5pm. He will be accorded a state funeral.
The government also announced a seven-day state mourning as a mark of respect for the former prime minister. In a circular, the home ministry also said national flag would be flown at half mast from today for seven days across India and a state funeral would be accorded to Vajpayee.
The BJP rode on the former prime minister's larger than the party image and avuncular manners to win over new allies and back to back victories in Lok Sabha elections in 1998 and 1999 to become a dominant force, eclipsing the Congress for the first time.
Never the one who wore the party's core Hindutva ideology on his sleeve, the poet- politician led the party from 1980, when it was founded by leaders of the erstwhile Jana Sangh which was merged with Janata Party briefly, to 1986 but with little electoral success as it won only two seats in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections.
However, it was L K Advani who was at the centre of the BJP's rise through the late 80s and early 90s as it rode the Ram Janmbhoomi movement pushed by its Hindutva affiliates like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and fuelled by 'rath yatra' in 1990 in support of a temple in Ayodhya.
"I am sad to hear about the demise of A B Vajpayeeji. Atalji was indeed a rare Indian leader who had the humaneness to seek the resolution of the festering Kashmir dispute in the wide ambit of humanity and not within the confines of a constitution," chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told PTI.
He said the former Prime Minister made sincere efforts to walk his talk when he initiated unconditional talks with the Hurriyat conference. "He was also a man of peace for his neighbours, especially wanted cordial and peaceful relations with Pakistan and was ready to address all issues including the core issue of Kashmir through dialogue. May his soul rest in peace," he added.
Former Hurriyat chairman Professor Abdul Gani Bhat said Vajpayee was "a great man in more than many cases". "His politics was broadly consisted of reconciliation and balancing...and he did it towards the end of his tenure as prime minister," Bhat said.
Bhat said Vajpayee's efforts to improve relations with Pakistan and settle the dispute in Jammu and Kashmir will go down in the annals of history as a singular effort to build a stable, prosperous and peaceful south Asia.
"Now is the time, while paying tributes to the great man, for the leadership of the sub-continent to follow his vision of a peaceful region. Initiate a dialogue and resolve all disputes including the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir in the interests of peace, prosperity and development," he added. -- PTI
The 93-year-old veteran politician, who died at 05:05 PM, was also put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support on his last day, they said. His death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital where he was admitted on June 11 with a variety of ailments.
"He suffered pneumonia and multi-organ failure, including kidney failure. He was put on ECMO support on the last day," said a doctor on the condition of anonymity.
ECMO is a technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to persons whose heart and lungs are unable to provide an adequate amount of gas exchange or perfusion to sustain life.
The ECMO circuit acts as an artificial heart and lung for patients during therapy. The former prime minister was admitted to the hospital with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.
Doctors said he was being given intermittent dialysis. Vajpayee, a diabetic, had only one functional kidney. He suffered a stroke in 2009 that weakened his cognitive abilities.
Subsequently, he developed dementia. His body has been sent to the Anatomy Department for embalming, doctors said.
Vajpayee was one of India's most charismatic leaders who led the nation through several crises and held together a tenuous coalition with his inclusive politics.
The AIIMS in statement said that his condition was stable for the last nine weeks, but "unfortunately, his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and he was put on life support systems." -- PTI
Vajpayee, a bachelor, is survived by his adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya.
His death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences hospital where he was admitted June 11 with a variety of ailments. "It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at 5:05 pm," the AIIMS said in a statement.
The first prime minister from a non-Congress party to complete a full term in office, Vajpayee began shakily -- his first stint as prime minister in 1996 lasted only 13 days when his unlikely coalition government failed to get support from other parties.
The BJP-led coalition government came back to power in 1998, and this time Vajpayee stayed in office for 13 months before losing a no-confidence motion by one vote.
The National Democratic Alliance returned to power in October 1999 with Vajpayee as prime minister once again. This time he lasted the entire term, capping a glorious career that saw him go from student activist to journalist, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh pracharak, Member of Parliament, foreign minister, opposition leader and finally a much-loved leader of the nation. -- PTI
Home Minister Rajnath Singh: This is a very sad moment for us that Atal ji is no more. Shortly his mortal remains will be taken to his residence where people can pay tribute to him.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee: Very very saddened that the great statesman and former PM Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji is no more with us. His passing away is a very big loss to our nation. I will always cherish the many fond memories. Condolences to his family and his many admirers. Let us cherish the idea of India for which our freedom fighters laid down their lives. Our people and our great institutions must strive to remain independent, in the true sense of the word.
Ratan N. Tata: All of us who knew Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee are saddened to hear of his passing away. He was a great leader with a great sense of compassion and humor. He will be remembered fondly by a vast number of us.
Omar Abdullah: Vajpayee Sahib is no more & I feel a personal sense of loss at his passing. Thank you sir for the opportunities, for the trust you reposed in me, for the opportunities to travel with you & to learn from you. You will be greatly missed
Words mean so little at a time like this but words are all we have to convey the deepest condolences to Gunu, to Neha, to Ranjan & the entire family. May God give you strength to bear this tremendous loss. #AtalBihariVajpayee.
BJP MP Dr. Harsh Vardhan: Indian scientific community would ever be grateful to #AtalBihariVajpayee - he expanded Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan to include Jai Vigyan after the nuclear test at Pokhran.His courageous decision to go for the 2nd nuclear test was the beginning of an India to reckon with. @BJP4India
Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb: Extremely saddened to hear about the passing away of one of our greatest inspirations for nation building, Bharat Ratna Shri #AtalBihariVajpayeeji.
Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje: I remember those early days of #BJP when under Atal ji and Rajmata ji I took my first steps into politics. Learning the ropes from the best, Atal jis wisdom and wit always proved to be an unmatched combination - his trademark style that #India came to love. #AtalBihariVajpayee
Congress: Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a great leader, loved by many & revered by all. We grieve his demise & our thoughts & prayers are with his family today.
Image: Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje tweeted this picture former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"India grieves the demise of our beloved Atalji. I feel a great void.
"His passing away marks the end of an era. He lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. My thoughts are with his family, BJP Karyakartas and millions of admirers in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti.
"It was Atalji's exemplary leadership that set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century. His futuristic policies across various sectors touched the lives of each and every citizen of India.
"Atalji's passing away is a personal and irreplaceable loss for me. I have countless fond memories with him. He was an inspiration to Karyakartas like me. I will particularly remember his sharp intellect and outstanding wit.
"It was due to the perseverance and struggles of Atalji that the BJP was built brick by brick. He travelled across the length and breadth of India to spread the BJP's message, which led to the BJP becoming a strong force in our national polity and in several states. He was a leader with no enemies."
Image: Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee with LK Advani and the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi.
A bulletin from AIIMS said he died at 5:05 pm. (See the image alongside).
Vajpayee's health worsened over the last 36 hours, the All India Institute of Medical Science said in a press note released this morning that he continued to be in a critical condition and was on life support.
The bulletin released just now said his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and he was put on life support systems. Despite the best efforts of doctors at the hospital he could not be saved, the press release said.
Vajpayee was admitted to AIIMS on June 11 after complaints of urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with BJP president Amit Shah paid a second visit to Vajpayee in AIIMS this afternoon.
In view of Vajpayee's critical health, BJP has already suspended all its programmes. An event scheduled for 20 August where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to launch a book on Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu's one year in office has also been postponed.
Vajpayee was conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2014. The same year, Modi government declared that Vajpayee's birth anniversary on December 25 -- would be marked as Good Governance Day.
Twenty-three more NDRF teams to be sent to flood-hit Kerala: Officials. massive landslide kills eight people in Palakkad district of Kerala even as there is no let-up in the torrential rains in the State where additional
defence teams have been rushed to scale up rescue and relief operations.
The country's apex body to handle emergency situation today decided to scale up relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala by involving the three defence services and other agencies, besides providing essential commodities to marooned people in 14 worst-affected districts.
Chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and attended by chiefs of the three services, secretaries of home, defence and others, the National Crisis Management Committee took stock of the prevailing situation in Kerala and directed all concerned to ensure continued assistance to the state government to meet the crisis, a home ministry spokesperson said. The meeting was held following a directive of the prime minister.
He said police spoke to Khalid, his friends and the shopkeepers near the scene of crime. Khalid was shot at on Monday when he was on his way to take part in an event at the Constitution Club after having tea at a shop outside the venue. He, however, escaped unhurt.
Following the incident, the attacker had fled towards Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. He had an accomplice who was waiting there in a vehicle, police said. We are now scanning CCTV footages in the vicinity of the gurudwara to gain clues to the accused, they said. Police said the probe would also focus on people who trolled Khalid online.
Yesterday, the Delhi Police had handed over the case to its Special Cell, which incidentally is already probing a sedition case against Khalid and two other JNU students. -- PTI
"As of now, the national executive has been postponed, and its dates will be finalised later," a party leader said. Vajpayee is battling for life and remains on advanced life support at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for the second day today. -- PTI
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Indu Malhotra took a serious note of the grim flood situation in Kerala and asked the sub-committee to hold an urgent meeting tomorrow morning with the Centre's National Crisis Management Committee and the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Kerala through a video-conference if physical presence of officials cannot be ensured.
"An effort has to be made to bring down the water level of the Mullaperiyar dam to 139 ft so that the people living downstream should not live in constant fear," the bench said.
However, Tamil Nadu government opposed the plea with regard to bringing down the water level in the dam, saying that the inflow of water presently is over 12,000 cusec in contrast to the outflow of 5,000 cusec. The bench said this was not the time to go into the past and efforts to be made to deal with the present crisis and posted the matter for further hearing at 2 pm tomorrow.
The bench also directed that the affected and displaced people be given adequate relief immediately. It also directed the committee and the NCMS to come out with a disaster management plan and asked Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments to implement with the decisions of the panel.
The Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha, informed the court that the NCMS had a meeting today and all possible reliefs are being sent to the flood-affected people of Kerala. -- PTI
The Chief Minister also informed that more helicopters will be deployed soon for the rescue operation in flood-hit Kerala.
"Very serious situation is prevailing in the state as nearly all villages are flood affected. I had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister, they have offered all support. More helicopters to be deployed soon," Vijayan said.
Vijayan further informed that the water level in the Periyar and Chalakudy rivers will rise and people living within a one kilometre-radius must rehabilitate immediately.
"Alert: the water-level in both Periyar and Chalakudy rivers will rise. People in one kilometre radius of Chalakudy, and those inside half kilometre radius of Aluva, must evacuate the place immediately," the Chief Minister tweeted.
So far, at least 75 people have lost their lives in the havoc.
Image: @vilakudy tweets these pictures of the same house within an interval of a few hours in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik talked to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan over telephone, following which the financial aid was announced, the CMO said. Patnaik also offered any other kind of support required to tackle the calamity, as Odisha has expertise in dealing with disasters like flood and cyclone, it said. -- PTI
Doordarshan broadcast that awkward moment live on Independence Day, so there was nothing the government could do for all its fabled reputation for micro-managing the media.As the country watched, the stunned silence in the studios was broken by a male voice saying in an undertone: " Tch tch tch tch... disaster."Most of those who watched and commented on the clip, which went viral, thought it was the anchor's voice and feared for his job, and worse.
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National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, who went to see the ailing Vajpayee, said, "We all should pray for his recovery. We should not forget that he is a leader who wanted to make the country strong. He wanted peace not only in our country but the whole world."
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also expressed concerns about Vajpayee's dropping health. He tweeted, "Saddened to hear about the critical health condition of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. Praying for his speedy recovery."
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reminisced working with Vajpayee, and said that the news of his health has distressed him. Patnaik is scheduled see the bed-ridden leader later in the day.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has also reached New Delhi to enquire about Vajpayee's condition.Various Chief Ministers including Mamata Banerjee, Yogi Adityanath, and Nitish Kumar are also expected at AIIMS. -- ANI
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Indu Malhotra considered the submission of a lawyer and agreed to hear the plea today itself.
The plea seeks a decision on disaster management steps in the background of the floods, opening of 33 dams in Kerala, confusion between Kerala and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers as water in the Mullaperiyar Dam has crossed the 142-ft threshold.
The death toll in the current phase of monsoon fury in the southern state is 73, while rains and flood water has caused extensive damage. Rise in flood waters in Periyar River due to the rains and opening of all shutters of all major dams including Mullaperiyar, Cheruthoni, part of Idukki reservoir, and Idamalayar, have severely affected lives of people in downstream areas. -- PTI
A posse of BJP ministers are at Vajpayee's residence as well. BJP leaders have been asked not to make any statement to the press.
Vajpayee was admitted at the premier medical college and hospital on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.
The 93-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party leader, a diabetic, has one functional kidney. He had suffered a stroke in 2009 that weakened his cognitive abilities. Subsequently, he developed dementia. The BJP veteran's condition remains critical and he continues to be on advanced life-support system, the AIIMS said in a statement today.
Image: PM Modi leaves AIIMS, his second visit since yesterday.
Before his departure, Kumar, who had served as a cabinet minister under Vajpayees Prime Ministership, issued a statement wherein he called the nonagenarian "a guardian...whose affection and guidance I have always received and from whom I have learnt the finer points of public life." "I pray for his early recovery," he said. -- PTI
Stubblefield's disfigured face was an outcome of her suicide attempt at the age of 18, following a number of emotional hurdles she faced as a teenager, reported CNN.
The self-inflicted gunshot wound led to Katie losing her nose, mouth; it also displaced her eyes, thus impairing her vision.
According to a video posted by Cleveland Clinic, the hospital where Katie was operated upon, 100 percent of her face was transplanted by doctors, to achieve results that cannot be called anything less than miraculous.
Techniques and technologies such as surgical rehearsal, 3D printing and virtual reality were used as part of the pre-operative planning, said Cleveland Clinic.
Katie's family was extremely supportive throughout this journey. The hospital's video quoted her father Robb as saying, "This journey has been four steps forward, two steps backward, but always progress."
The 21-year-old was put on the waiting list for a face transplant in 2016; over a year later a donor was found, making Katie the 40th face transplant patient in the world. She was operated upon in May 2017, making her the youngest one in the US to undergo the procedure.
She will continue to be on medication for the rest of her life to minimize the risk of transplant rejection and is also taking physical and occupational therapy, including help from a speech therapist, reported CNN.Katie's story made it to the National Geographic magazine as she featured on their cover for the September issue. -- ANI
Image: The three images of Katie Stubblefield as she was before the gun-shot injury (left), after the gun-shot injury (centre) and after a face transplant surgery (right)
The Centre today launched a massive relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala, involving the three defence forces and other agencies, even as Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha chaired a high-level meeting following a directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Besides the Army, Navy and the Indian Air Force, the Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force have been asked to mobilise additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations, a home ministry spokesperson said.
Food packets and drinking water are being rushed to Kerala for distribution among the people in 14 worst affected districts, while additional NDRF teams are also being sent to the state to assist the local administration in operations.
The cabinet secretary chaired a high-level meeting to review the flood situation and rescue and relief operations in the southern state following a directive of the Prime Minister, the spokesperson said.
The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, top officials of the Ministries of Defence, the National Disaster Management Authority and the NDRF. It was decided that the Chairman of the Central Water Commission will monitor the situation at the Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala in view of the rising water level and continued heavy inflow.
The Prime Minister has spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan this morning and discussed with him the flood situation. Modi had spoken to Vijayan yesterday too. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too had a telephonic conversation with the Kerala chief minister this morning on the prevailing situation.
Singh had spoken to Vijayan twice yesterday. During his visit to Kerala on Sunday, the home minister had announced a Rs-100 crore immediate assistance package. Five people were killed in a landslide in Palakkad district of Kerala today even as torrential rains led to the collapse of the public transport system in many parts of the state with the southern Railways and Kochi Metro suspending operations.
Palakkad district police sources said the five persons were killed in Nenmara while two were rescued, taking the death toll to 73 in the current phase of Monsoon fury. Reports of a landslide have also come in from Thrissur district and some people are said to be missing. PTI
The image was tweeted by @IndiaHistorypic
The Congress chief also said that he has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "massively increase" deployment of Army and Navy personnel for rescue and relief operations.
"I am deeply concerned for the people of #Kerala tonight, as the flood waters rise. Thousands are stranded. Relief camps full. Many have lost their loved ones. It's time to step up & help. Please contribute generously to the CM's relief fund (sic)," he had said on Twitter tagging the link. In a tweet today, he said, "Kerala is in great pain. I spoke to PM and requested him to massively increase deployment of the Army & Navy. I also said that it is critical that he gives the state special financial assistance as this is a tragedy without parallel in Kerala's history." The death toll in the current phase of monsoon fury in the southern state has touched 73.
Palakkad district police sources said the five persons were killed in Nenmara while two were rescued, taking the death toll to 73 in the current phase of the monsoon fury.
Reports of a landslide have also come in from Thrissur district and some people are said to be missing, the sources said. Rise in flood waters in Periyar River due to the rains and opening of all shutters of all major dams including Mullaperiyar, Cheruthoni, part of Idukki reservoir, and Idamalayar, have severely affected lives of people in downstream areas.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan once again called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised him of the flood situation in the state.
The state has also sought the services of additional Army personnel and helicopters and the prime minister has assured all help, Vijayan said. "Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan again this morning. We discussed the flood situation in the state. Have asked Defence Ministry to further step up the rescue and relief operations across the state. Praying for the safety and well-being of the people of Kerala. @CMOKerala," the prime minister tweeted.
The chief minister also called up Home Minister Rajnath Singh and spoke to him about the flood situation and sought more central help for relief and rescue operations.
Floods continue to ravage most parts of Kerala, especially Pathanamthitta, Ernakukam and Alappuzha districts, where several people, including children and elderly, are trapped in their houses. -- PTI
Image: A helicopter hovers above a house in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. The armed forces have rescued hundreds stranded in the flood-hit state.
Shekhar Gupta's 2016 column addressing the government, on how a good idea when in crisis, is to apply the 'Vajpayee test' to your actions. Do read
Basically, what this means is there is no improvement in his health.
The 93-year-old BJP veteran was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.
"Unfortunately, his condition has worsened. His condition is critical and he is on life-support system," the AIIMS had said in the statement last night.
"Both his lungs are not in good condition because of pneumonia on both sides and kidneys are also weak. He is critical," a source said today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the AIIMS yesterday evening to enquire about the condition of Vajpayee and is expected to reach AIIMS once again, shortly.
Modi reached the hospital at around 7.15 pm and spent about 50 minutes there. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu visited AIIMS this morning to enquire about the condition of the former prime minister. BJP veteran L K Advani was also at the hospital to enquire about the health of Vajpayee, as was Sushma Swaraj.
BJP chief Amit Shah, Union Health Minister J P Nadda, were also at AIIMS, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Union ministers Prakash Javadekar are expected to visit the premier medical institute soon. After Modi, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi also paid a visit. Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari was among those who visited the hospital. Later in the night, several leaders and ministers including Suresh Prabhu, Jitendra Singh, Harsh Vardhan and Shahnawaz Hussain visited the hospital. Earlier, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani had visited the hospital to check on Vajpayee.
A large crowd of mediapersons and others has gathered outside the hospital to get updates on Vajpayee's heath, affecting movement of traffic on the road. Policemen have been deployed to manage the crowd and traffic outside the hospital. Vajpayee, a diabetic, has only one functional kidney. He had suffered a stroke in 2009 that weakened his cognitive abilities. Subsequently, he developed dementia. -- PTI
In view of Vajpayees critical health, BJP has suspended all its programmes. An event scheduled for 20 August where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to launch a book on Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidus one year in office has also been postponed.
Vajpayee was conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2014. The same year, Modi government declared that Vajpayee's birth anniversary, i.e., 25 December, would be marked as Good Governance Day.
Vajpayee's health worsened over the last 24 hours, the All India Institute of Medical Science said in a press note released late Wednesday evening. The bulletin said Vajpayee was in a critical condition and was on life support.
Vajpayee was admitted to AIIMS on June 11 after complaints of urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.
The popular Humboldt penguin pair at Mumbai's Byculla Zoo will now be raising their baby, the first-ever penguin chick to be born in India. The as yet unnamed chick was born at 8:02 pm yesterday.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, BJP chief Amit Shah, Union Health Minister J P Nadda, are at AIIMS, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Union ministers Prakash Javadekar, Dharmendra Pradhan are expected to visit the premier medical institute soon. Home Minister Rajnath Singh also visited the hospital this morning.
The 93-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party leader was admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.
The veteran BJP leader, a diabetic, has one functional kidney. He had suffered a stroke in 2009 that weakened his cognitive abilities. Subsequently, he developed dementia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited AIIMS last evening to enquire about the condition of Vajpayee.
Vajpayee's niece Kanti Mishra said she has been praying to god for his recovery. "Just once I want to see him give a speech again. Our family can never ever erase that image of his from our minds. I hope he gets well soon," she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to AIIMS to visit the former PM, followed up by visits from Union Minister for Textile Smriti Irani, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, MP Meenakshi Lekhi, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, JP Nadda, BJP president Amit Shah and a host of BJP VVIPs. Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee to visit shortly. Massive security cordon outside the AIIMS.
Vajpayee is a diabetic, and has only one functional kidney. He had suffered a stroke in 2009 that weakened his cognitive abilities. Subsequently, he developed dementia.
Image: Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Kanti Mishra.
A source told E Online that Jonas and his immediate family are traveling to India this weekend to attend the engagement party.
"It's a tradition for them to meet before the wedding and Priyanka's family insisted on hosting the Jonas family in their country. She wants everything to be traditional to respect her family's values, and definitely an Indian wedding," said the source.
It further said the couple is excited for everyone to meet and to celebrate. "Everything is very secretive but guests are expected to head there starting tomorrow. All of the plans are moving quickly and Priyanka and Nick do not want to have a long engagement," the source added.
The news of the couple's engagement came after Bollywood director Ali Abbas Zafar said that Priyanka opted out from his upcoming flick 'Bharat' in the 'Nick' of time, owing to a very "special reason".
Earlier, in two instances, Priyanka was seen hiding her ring from the paparazzi.
Priyanka and Nick, who reportedly dated for two months, were first spotted together at the 2017 Met Gala.
The speculation about their relationship brewed after the pair met each other's family. First, Chopra met Jonas' family at his cousin's wedding in New Jersey after which Nick traveled to India to meet Chopra's mother. -- ANI
He also spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan again this morning. "We discussed the flood situation in the state. Have asked Defence Ministry to further step up the rescue and relief operations across the state. Praying for the safety and well-being of the people of Kerala," the PM tweeted.
Last evening, Modi had told Vijayan that the Centre stood firmly behind Kerala and was ready to provide any assistance. Rains in the state have claimed 67 lives, officials said, adding that a red alert had been sounded in 12 of the 14 districts.
In what is being touted as the state's worst flood since 1924, the flooding and landslide have resulted in heavy loss of life and property. For the first time in the history of the state, it has opened 35 of its 39 dams due to rising water levels.
On Wednesday morning, Indian Meteorological Department issued a red alert for eight districts of the state. It has predicted heavy to very heavy rains at most places in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasargode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Idukki and Ernakulam Districts until Thursday.
Earlier today, four teams of National Disaster Rescue Force were airlifted from Pune to Kerala for aiding in rescue operations. The teams have been brought in with full-wave rectified (FWR) equipment and communication equipment. - PTI
IMAGE: Rescue officials assist villagers out of a flooded area near Kochi. Photograph: PTI Photo