As it happened | Jayalalithaa laid to rest next to mentor MGR in Marina Beach
Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa was laid to rest near her political mentor M G Ramachandran’s memorial in Marina Beach in Chennai on Tuesday.
Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa was laid to rest near her political mentor M G Ramachandran’s memorial in Marina Beach in Chennai on Tuesday.
Thousands of people gathered outside her final resting place to pay tributes. Political leaders paid their last respects before the sandalwood casket with her body was lowered into the ground with full state honours.
Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala peformed the last rites and the national flag draped on the late chief minister’s coffin was presented to her.
Earlier the funeral procession started from Rajaji Hall and crawled towards Marina Beach as thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay their respects. Police teams were pressed into action for crowd control, as emotionally charged supporters shouted slogans during Jayalalithaa’s final journey.
On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to the six-time chief minister.
The movie-star-turned politician with a huge following died at Chennai’s Apollo Hospital on Monday. She was 68.
Here is how the day panned out
• 6:07pm: The six-time chief minister’s mortal remains in a sandalwood casket gets buried.
• 6:05pm: Casket with ‘Puratchi Thalaivi’ (revolutionary leader) J Jayalalithaa’s body closed.
• 6:04pm: Sasikala performs Jayalalithaa’s last rites
•6:03 pm: The national flag draped on Jayalalithaa’s coffin is presented to her close aide Sasikala.
• 6:00 pm: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi removes his sandals and pays his last respects to Jayalalithaa’s body.
• 5:55 pm: After the armed forces pay tribute, all the leaders including Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam pay their last respects.
• 5:45 pm: Tamil Nadu governor Vidayasagar Rao pays his last respects
• 5:40 pm: Former AIADMK supremo’s body is placed in a sandalwood casket with “Puratchithalaivi Selvi J Jayalalithaa” engraved on it.
• 5:15 pm: The final journey ends near MGR Memorial and former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa’s casket is lowered from the hearse and taken towards her final resting place.
• 5:15 pm: The funeral procession enters Beach road. Preparations for the last rites and burial near MGR memorial begin.
• 5:10 pm:
• 5:00 pm: Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala are seated on the wagon leading the funeral procession.
• 4:50 pm: AIADMK MPs and MLAs lead the procession, closely followed by the rapid action force and police personnel who form a human chain around the trailer which carries the former chief minister’s mortal remains.
• 4:30 pm: As the iconic leader’s final journey moves towards MGR Memorial, emotionally charged supporters shout slogans in praise of the ‘Amma’ (Mother)
• 4:30 pm: Thousands descend on the streets of Chennai to bid goodbye to Jayalalithaa.
• 4:25 pm: The final procession from Rajaji Hall to Marina Beach begins.
• 4:20 pm: Former AIADMK Supremo’s coffin is placed into a flower-bedecked trailer.
• 4:15 pm: The security personnel start moving her coffin towards Marina Beach.
• 4:10 pm: President Pranab Mukherjee pays his last respects.
• 4:00 pm: People gather near Marina Beach to pay their last respects to the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu where she will be laid to rest.
• 3:55 pm:
• 3:45 pm:
• 3:35 pm:
• 3:30 pm:
• 3:15 pm: Pictures of the Rajaji Hall where the chief minister’s body has been kept.
• 2.58pm: Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar pays tribute to her at Rajaji Hall in Chennai. She was on Monday not allowed inside the Apollo Hospitals to meet her ailing aunt.
• 2.45pm: AIADMK cadres begin to congregate near Marina beach, where Jayalalithaa’s funeral would be held
• 2.30pm: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh arrives at the Rajaji Hall to pay tributes to Jayalalithaa.
• 1:45pm:
• 1:30pm: A Jayalalithaa supporter in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore shaves his head in mourning.
• 12:30pm: President Pranab Mukherjee to depart for Chennai from Delhi again after. The IAF plane carrying him had earlier developed a technical snag: ANI
• 12:06pm: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Chennai to pay his respects to J Jayalalithaa
• 12 noon: IAF plane carrying President Pranab Mukherjee to Chennai returns to Delhi after facing a technical snag: PTI
• 11:46am: Tamil superstar Rajinikanth pays his respects to Jayalalithaa, whose body is at Rajaji hall in Chennai
• 11:42am: Maharashtra Assembly adjourns for the day after offering their condolences to the late former chief minister. Motion moved by Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis
• 11:35am: Odisha assembly also adjourns for the day. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik to attend Jayalalithaa’s last rites
• 11.11am: AIADMK rival DMK’s treasurer and former deputy CM of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin pays tributes to Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall
• 11:05am: Both houses of Parliament adjourn for the day after offering their condolences to former chief minister Jayalalithaa. A minute of silence was also observed
• 10:35am: President Pranab Mukherjee condoles the death of the former chief minister. He said the country had “lost an icon who was loved and admired by millions”.
• 10:05 am: The Rajya Sabha will adjourn for the day as a mark of respect to J Jayalalithaa, who was a member of the Upper House from 1984 to 1989
• 9.15am: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expresses grief and announces one day state mourning.
Describing her as a statesman and a social worker, Kumar says that in her death not only Tamil Nadu but the entire country has suffered a huge loss in political, social, cultural and art field
• 9:10am: Chennai shuts down as Tamil Nadu mourns the death of its 18th chief minister
• 8:25am: Funeral to be held at 4:30pm at Marina beach
• 8:25am: Shops down shutters in Coimbatore as Tamil Nadu mourns Jayalalithaa’s death: ANI
• 8:24am: The chief minister, who was elected for a second consecutive term this May, is being accorded a state funeral. Flags will be flown at half mast and ceremonial functions have been cancelled
• 8:22am: Centre declares one day of national mourning and the Kerala government announces a public holiday for state offices and educational institutes
• 7:57am:
• 7:55am: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will leave for Chennai later on Tuesday to pay his last respects to Jayalalithaa: ANI
• 7:45am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to leave for Chennai to pay homage to Jayalalithaa, after paying homage to BR Ambedkar at Parliament House, reports ANI
• 6:55am: Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu pays tribute to Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall
• 6.25am: Tamil Nadu government declares public holiday under Negotiable Instrument Act as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa, reports ANI
• 6.20am:
• 6am: Jayalalithaa’s cremation to be held on Tuesday evening
• 5.50am: Jayalalithaa’s body being taken from her residence Poes Garden to Rajaji Hall where people can pay last respects
• 3.30am: I offer deep condolences on passing away of Jayalalithaa. Wishes of lakhs of her followers will make her immortal, DMK chief Karunanidhi tells ANI.
• 3am: Clashes between police and Jayalalithaa supporters in Poes Garden. Police trying to keep barricades intact.
• 2.20am: Jayalalithaa’s body begins its final journey from Apollo Hospital to Poes Garden. Cries of “Puratchi Thalaivi Amma” can be heard.
• 1.10am: Express my condolences to people of Tamil Nadu, may her soul rest in peace: Governor C Vidyasagar Rao
• 1.02am: O Panneerselvam unanimously elected as the Tamil Nadu chief minister by AIADMK leaders.
• 1am: State mourning will be observed for seven days from today, says Tamil Nadu chief secretary.
• 12.45am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences over Jayalalithaa’s demise.
“I will always cherish the innumerable occasions when I had the opportunity to interact with Jayalalithaa ji (honorific). May her soul rest in peace,” Modi tweets.
• 12.30am: A three day mourning has been declared in the state. Schools and colleges will also remain closed.
• December 6 (Tuesday) 12:15am: Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa has died, Apollo Hospital says in a statement.
• 11.45pm: CM’s convoy being readied at Apollo hospital, heavy security presence around Poes garden.
• 11.40pm: AIADMK MLAs have gone into a huddle after finance minister O Panneerselvam arrived late around 11 pm to the party headquarters where they are likely to discuss the way forward. Party sources have indicated that in all likelihood Panneerselvam would be chosen as the leader of the AIADMK legislative party.
• 11.15pm: Senior AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam reaches party headquarters, reports ANI.
• 10pm: A meeting of ruling AIADMK MLAs in Tamil Nadu which was expected to discuss key issues in the wake of the “grave” health situation of party supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, could not be held as planned and has since been postponed, party sources told PTI on Monday night.
• 9pm: Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who has been camping in Tamil Nadu since this morning, has apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the latest health condition of Jayalalithaa.
• 8pm: A near total shutdown like situation prevailed in Chennai with shops and other establishments downing shutters and office goers returning home early
• 7pm: AIADMK MLAs meeting underway at party headquarters, says ANI.
• 6:30pm: Union minister Venkaiah Naidu was spotted at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai.
• 5:55pm: Minutes after local TV channels claimed Jayalalithaa was dead, Chennai’s Apollo Hospital said the rumours were “baseless and false”.
“Some TV channels are wrongly reporting that honorable chief minister is no more. This is totally baseless and false. They are advised to rectify this mistake, based on this press release.” S Vishwanathan, chief operating officer, Apollo Hospitals said in a statement.
• 5:45pm: Local TV reports say Jayalalithaa has died.
• 5:00pm: Apollo Hospital’s latest tweet says their team of doctors are closely monitoring and treating Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa but her condition remains critical.
• 4:30pm: Reactions from Opposition parties in the State have come. Everyone prays for her speedy recovery.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko visited Apollo Hospital and said, “She detained me under anti-terror law but apart from politics I treat her like sister. She will come out of this crisis. The best medical treatment has been given, we should not speculate anything.”
BJP State president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan also arrived at Greams Lane on Monday, she said, “Her condition is critical, but I have seen patients recovering from such illness; she is a fighter.”
• 3.35pm: Dr Richard Beale, a London based specialist in Intensive Care Medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital, has issued a statement saying, “The situation is extremely grave, but I can confirm that everything possible is being done to give her the best chance of surviving this shocking event.”
The Apollo Hospital had consulted Dr Beale last month after Jayalalithaa was hospitalised.
He was consulted again on Sunday after the Tamil Nadu chief minister suffered a cardiac arrest.
“I was most saddened to hear yesterday (Sunday) that Madam Chief Minister suffered a cardiac arrest,” Beale said in his statement.
Beale adds: “...in spite of the progress she had made, her underlying health conditions inevitably meant that the risk of further problems always remained”
Here is the full statement
• 3.15pm:
• 2.15pm: US consulate in Chennai issues advisory for American citizens in the city: “...even gatherings intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.”
“The US Consulate General in Chennai operating with reduced staffing on December 5, 2016, and has temporarily suspended appointments for routine services to US citizens and visa applicants. The Consulate will provide updates when routine services are restored.”
Emergency contact numbers: Consulate in Chennai: +91-44-2857-4000, US embassy in New Delhi: +91-11-2419-8000.
• 12.50pm: A statement issued by Apollo Hospitals on Jayalalithaa’s health condition says she “continues to be very critical and is on ECMO and other life support systems.”
• 12.20pm:
• 12.03pm: Amma supporters arrange special poojas at Sakthi Vinayagar Temple in Mumbai’s Dharavi for the speedy recovery of Jayalalithaa.
• 11.34am: Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu to go to Chennai on Monday to take stock of Jayalalithaa’s health condition
• 11.14am: If Tamil Nadu requires help, we (Centre) are willing. The Union home ministry will put forces on standby, but we can’t intervene on our own: Kiren Rijiju, minister of state for home affairs, tells ANI
• 11.00am: After Chennai, security increased in Coimbatore and along Tamil Nadu borders with Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka in view of CM Jayalalithaa’s health condition
• 9.48am: “Jayalalithaa, who suffered cardiac arrest (on Sunday evening), had surgery this morning. She’s fine now,” AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi tells NDTV.
• 9.45am: Union health minister JP Nadda says the Centre is in regular touch with Apollo Hospital and Tamil Nadu government.
“We have sent a team from Delhi AIIMS to Chennai. They (Apollo Hospitals) needed doctors and we have sent them that. The government is doing whatever is possible for us. We hope and pray for Jayalalithaa’s speedy recovery,” Nadda tells ANI.
• 9.38am: Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP Rajya Sabha MP La Ganesan reach Apollo Hospital to enquire about CM Jayalalithaa’s health
• 9.10am: Heavy police deployment on Greams Lane as more supporters gather outside Apollo Hospital
• 8.30am: All roads leading to the Apollo Hospital on Greams Lane blocked by Chennai traffic police to avoid any congestion. Thousands of supporters already outside the hospital
• 7.00am: Huge police barricading as the number of supporters grows outside Apollo Hospital. Amma still in critical care unit. CRPF teams put on high alert.
• 6.50am: Tamil actor Sarathkumar arrives at the hospital to meet the Tamil Nadu CM. “With all blessings she will come out of this situation. She is being treated by the medical team,” the actor tells ANI.
• December 5 (Monday), 6am: Supporters stay put outside the Apollo Hospital all night praying for Jayalalithaa. Tearful eyes amid high police security seen all over.
• 11.54pm: DMK leader MK Stalin tweets: “I sincerely hope that the treatments being given to the TN CM prove successful and she recovers completely.”
• Tamil Nadu governor Vidyasagar Rao reaches Apollo Hospital in Chennai to inquire about CM Jayalalithaa’s health.
Read | From Rahul Gandhi to Karunanidhi, political leaders pray for Jayalalithaa’s health
• Additional police personnel were deployed at Greams Lane outside the hospital, which eventually filled up with AIADMK supporters.
• Tamil Nadu police were on standby to avert any law and order problems though reinforcements had not been sought from the Centre till midnight. The party maintains that Amma – as the six-time chief minister is reverently known among her supporters – was completely fine.
• Tamil Nadu governor C Vidyasagar Rao arrives in Chennai around 11pm and discusses Jayalalithaa’s health situation with home minister Rajnath Singh. President Pranab Mukherjee and political leaders across the country wish the chief minister a speedy recovery.
• 10.59pm: Jayalalithaa was put on an extracorporeal membrane heart-assist device and was being treated by a team of critical care specialists, Apollo Hospital tweets.
“Dr Richard Beale from London has also been consulted and he has concurred with the line of treatment by our cardiologists and pulmonologists,” the hospital adds.
• December 4 (Sunday), 10.58pm: “The Honourable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu who is undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals,Greams Road, suffered a cardiac arrest this evening, ” tweets Apollo Hospital
Read | Jayalalithaa: Timeline of the movie star-turned-politician
.