Supporters gather outside Kauvery hospital as Karunanidhi's health 'declines'; Kanimozhi meets them

Hundreds of DMK supporters gathered outside the Chennai's Kauvery hospital on Tuesday as the condition of ailing DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi continues to 'decline'. 

The 94-year-old five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister was being continuously monitored and treated with active medical support.

Indicating the next 24 hours could be crucial, Kauvery Hospital has said that keeping his vital organs functioning remains a "challenge".

"His response to the medical interventions over the next 24 hours will determine the prognosis," Executive Director of the Hospital Dr Aravindan Selvaraj said in the terse two-paragraph release.

DMK leader Kanimozhi also met people who gathered outside the hospital. As the news spread, supporters, including a large number of women gathered, while some failed to control their tears.

Karunanidhi was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on July 28 following a dip in blood pressure, which stabilised following medical intervention.

A host of dignitaries and political leaders, including President Ram Nath Kovind Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi have visited the hospital over the last few days to inquire about the condition of the DMK veteran. 

Before that, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Suresh Prabhu visited him.