Shiv Sena president Balasaheb Thackeray is no more. After days of uncertainity over his health, the 86-year-old leader passed into ages at 3:33 pm on Saturday.
Dr Jalil Parkar of Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai announced to the media in front of Matoshree that the leader went into a cardio-respiratory arrest, among mourning supporters.
The doctor also appealed to the supporters to maintain peace and harmony.
For 16 years, Bal Thackeray fought a long, difficult battle against many ailments, most of them complicated and some interlinked — heart-related troubles, stomach problems and more recently COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
He faced his first major health problem in 1996, months after his wife Meenatai’s death, when he complained of chest pain and had to be taken to Hinduja Hospital. Late cardiovascular surgeon Nitu Mandke was asked to rush from Ahmedabad to treat the leader. Doctors had detected a block at the origin of the left anterior descending artery, and decided he needed a bypass surgery. Thackeray, who was spearheading the campaign for the local civic body election with six meetings a day, was asked to take it easy.
Over the years, he has been suffering from the commonly coexisting COPD and emphysema, in which the lungs' airways become narrow and limit the flow of air, causing shortness of breath. He also had ischemic heart disease, and underwent a cataract operation once.
His stomach ailment was one that disturbs the digestion process. He once said he had been asked to drink wine twice a day to tackle constipation. He said he preferred white wine to red, which he was advised.
With age, Thackeray's health problems grew more and more serious. In February 2009, he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital for 14 days after he complained of fever and exhaustion.
In June 2009, a day before his party's foundation day, he was admitted to the ICU with breathlessness and palpitations, his oxygen level dropping and blood pressure shooting up. The foundation day ceremony was put on hold.
The following month, he underwent an angioplasty after an angiography revealed narrowed heart vessels. He skipped the Dussehra rally.
The next year, during which he turned 83, saw him more robust, and in good spirits. He addressed a function to mark the 50th year of Maharashtra's formation. He had gained nearly 17 kg in 10 months, and resumed his walking in his residential colony in Bandra, doing without support five rounds in the morning and 15 in the evening. He also returned to caricaturing.
Also in 2010, Thackeray underwent a minor eye surgery. He had mild fogginess in the vision of both eyes and the membrane was removed by laser treatment. The surgery on both eyes was completed in seven minutes.
This year, Thackeray was admitted to hospital in May and July with severe stomach pain. Hyderabad-based specialist Nageshwar Reddy and his team were supposed to perform an endoscopy but the decision was deferred.
At the annual Sena Dussehra rally in October, Thackeray spoke about his failing health and, in a recorded statement,virtually announced his retirement from public life.
Over the last few days, as his health deteriorated, estranged nephew Raj Thackeray, PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and singer Lata Mangeshkar were among those who called on him. A team of at least six doctors constantly monitored his health, but found little improvement.
Latest Mumbai News
8:22 pm: No taxis to ply across Mumbai but autos may ply depending on the situation, reports say.
8:13 pm: Gurdwaras all over Mumbai are open for everyone. Langar and stayover will be provided till the situation is normal.
8:00 pm: Many Mumbai cable operators are showing only news channels on their networks.
7:53 pm: BEST pulls out 272 AC buses from the roads while one lakh autos and 30,000 taxis disappear from streets of Mumbai after news of Bal Thackeray's death came in.
7:49pm: The prepaid counter at the domestic and international airports in Mumbai shut down.
7:40 pm: The Brihan Mumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) curtails its bus operations following a stone pelting in Ghatkopar.
7:30 pm: The Mumbai Police advised people to stay at home after the death of party chief Bal Thackeray, who breathed his last at 3.30 pm on Saturday. The police issued an advisory which said, "Citizens should only step out of houses only is there is an emergency. Avoid Western Express Highway. Certain restrictions on traffic movements in the city especially from Bandra to Dadar. Only essential travel/commute is advised. An appeal is made to people to maintain calm and peace."
7:15 pm: Thousands of Shiv Sainiks have gathered outside Thackeray's residence Matoshree. Traffic around Kalanagar comes to a halt.
7:09 pm: Shops in several areas shut down as the news of Thackeray's death spread. People were stranded in several areas as many taxis and auto rickshaws also went off road.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena urged people to maintain peace and stay calm. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that Thackeray's body would be kept for 'darshan' at Shivaji Park ground in central Mumbai on Sunday. He also asked party workers to not gather at Matoshree - Bal Thackeray's residence in Mumbai.
Shops in several areas shut down as the news of Thackeray's death spread. People were stranded in several areas as many taxis and auto rickshaws also went off road. Mumbai police said that over 20,000 police personnel had been deployed across the Maharashtra capital to avoid any law-and-order problem. Maharashtra has been put on high alert for the next 24 hours.
Sanjay Raut added that the party workers would be able to pay last respects to the Shiv Sena supremo from 7.00 am on Sunday at Shivaji Park. "People should maintain peace and should not lose calm. We should carry on the thoughts of Shiv Sena chief," Raut said.
Shivaji Park was the place where the very first rally of Shiv Sena was held, and where Thackeray held his annual Dussehra rallies year after year. This year, however, he had not been able to attend the event because of ill-health.
source: indian express
