Rumours and Shock: The Day Amma Passed Away

Here’s a look at the chronology of the events that ensued following rumours of her Jayalalithaa’s cardiac arrest.

AIADMK members pray for the speedy recovery of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Coimbatore on Monday. (Photo: PTI)

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals with dehydration and fever more than two months back. The former Chief Minister and chief of AIADMK passed away on Monday night at the age of 68.

Since the news of her cardiac arrest broke on Sunday, rumours of her being dead have been afloat in the media. Here’s a chronology of the events that ensued following reports of her failing health:

• Local channels in Tamil Nadu such as Jaya TV and Sun News announced her death without an official statement from the private hospital she was admitted in, on Monday evening.
• Leading news organisations like the Indian Express, Hindustan Times and India Today also swiftly proclaimed her death.
• Some of the AIADMK members who were left confused by the reports lowered down the party flag at the party's headquarters triggering chaos outside Apollo Hospitals.
• #RIPJayalalithaa started trending on Twitter.
• Only after Apollo dismissed the rumours and continued to tweet on the status on the AIADMK supremo's health, did the AIADMK member raise the party flag back.
• Despite Apollo's assurance that Amma was being looked after, the state faced a near total shutdown with security being deployed outside the hospital as her supporters flocked around the area halting traffic.
• Apollo hospital officially announced her death at 11:30 pm on Monday.
• Peace prevailed among her supporter after the official announcement of her death and a corridor was prepared to take her body from the hospital to Poes Garden, her official residence.
• Three days of mourning was announced by the state.
• O Panneerselvam was appointed as Tamil Nadu’s new Chief Minister.

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