Tamil Nadu: DMK MLA Anbazhagan succumbs to COVID-19 in Chennai Hospital

Tamil Nadu MLA J Anbazhagan, who had tested positive for coronavirus, passed away in a Chennai hospital on Wednesday morning. He would have turned 62 on this day. DMK MLA was admitted to hospital on June 2 after complaining of severe acute respiratory distress. He later tested positive for COVID-19.

Anbazhagan was put on ventilator support on June 3 after his breathing trouble worsened and he was found to have contracted acute pneumonia. DMK leader’s condition deteriorated on Monday evening at Chennai Institute and Medical Centre. A drop in cardiac functioning and a chronic kidney disease also contributed to his critical condition.

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private hospital released a statement on Wednesday saying that despite complete medical support, including mechanical ventilation at COVID-19 facility, Anbazhagan succumbed to his illness.

Anbazhagan is first prominent political leader to die of coronavirus in Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister E Palanisamy and DMK chief MK Stalin condoled politician's death. Stalin also anunced three-day mourning for leader with DMK flag at half-mast. All party events have also been called off in wake of his demise.

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Coronavirus grips Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu's death toll crossed 300 mark with as many as 1,685 new positive coronavirus cases recorded on Tuesday. government has anunced addition of over 1,000 beds in hospitals as part of measures to tackle pandemic in state capital. As state continued to post a new high of cases on a daily basis, with Chennai accounting for a huge chunk, government asserted that it has been following a multi-pronged approach to tackle COVID-19 crisis.

Though state's tally of total infected people rose to 34,914, active cases were 16,279 and 798 patients got discharged from various hospitals on Tuesday. Cumulatively, as on date, 18,325 people have recovered from illness caused by virus. Tamil Nadu is second-worst hit state in country.

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