Karunanidhi undergoes Tracheostomy procedeure to improve breathing

Chennai: The president of the DMK and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi, was readmitted to the Kauvery Hospital in Chennai on Thursday night following breathing difficulty due to heavy cold and lung infection. The 92-year-old leader underwent a tracheostomy procedure to optimise breathing, the Kauvery Hospital stated.

"He is stable, on antibiotics and is being treated by a team of doctors," a bulletin issued by S. Aravindan, executive director of the Kauvery hospital, said.

Karunanidhi was rushed in an ambulance from his Gopalapuram residence to the hospital in Chennai shortly after 11 p.m. on Thursday.

His son and DMK treasurer M K Stalin, daughter Kanimozhi and several senior party leaders accompanied him.

This is the second time Karunanidhi has been admitted to the hospital in the last 15 days.

On December 1, he was admitted to the hospital for “optimisation of nutrition and hydration”. He was discharged on the night of December 7 and advised rest for a few days. The DMK had requested the people not to call on him since he required adequate rest.

Karunanidhi has kept away from public platforms ever since he developed a drug allergy on October 25. On December 10, the DMK  announced that he would preside over the party's general council meeting in Chennai on December 20 when Stalin is expected to take over as Working President of the party.