Karunanidhi passes away

Chennai, Aug 07: Karunanidhi, a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu and the DMK president for 50 years, died in Kauvery Hospital here at 6.10pm on Tuesday. he was 94.

His health had seen a significant decline in the last 24 hours due to multi-organ failure. Doctors stated that despite maximum medical support, he could not be resuscitated.

Hundreds of supporters have gathered outside the hospital as the news of the DMK patriarch becoming critical spread, with all of them praying for his recovery. The state DGP has ordered tightening of security across Tamil Nadu.

All roads leading to Kalaignar M Karunanidhi's Gopalapuram residence have been cordoned off by police and Rapid Action Force personnel. The security forces are not allowing any vehicles to pass without ID checks and the entry to the family residence is being restricted to VIPs and the residents of the area.

Karunanidhi died on Tuesday at the age of 94 after striding the political stage of Tamil Nadu like a colossus for nearly six decades, personally undefeated in any election he contested, whatever be the fortunes of the DMK. He was elected 13 times to the Tamil Nadu legislature and was chief minister five times.