Veteran Congress leader and former chief minister K. Karunakaran died on Thursday evening at a private hospital here. He was 92. Mr Karunakaran had been admitted to Ananthapuri Hospital on December 10 with fever and breathing difficulties. His condition worsened initially but improved dramatically after a few days. On Wednesday,
however, his situation again turned critical after he suffered two strokes. He was put on ventilator support but his vital signs weakened. The end came at 5.25 pm on Thursday. His son, K. Muraleedharan, and his daughter, Padmaja Venugopal, were at his side during the last moments.
“We announce with deep regret that our leader Karunakaran has died,” said KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala on the porch of the hospital soon after doctors declared the leader dead. Thousands of Congressmen had thronged the hospital premises after getting to know that their leader was in critical condition. Many of them burst into tears after news emerged of his demise.
Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan and other ministers immediately reached the hospital and paid tribute.