Kolkata, July 13: Veteran CPM leader Jyoti Basu was admitted to the AMRI Hospital around 11.30 am on Sunday after he complained of breathlessness and fainted at his Salt Lake home.
The former CM, who celebrated his 96th birthday last week, has been unwell for a while and had even been admitted to the hospital around three months ago.
Doctors said Basu was admitted after a “transient loss of consciousness and abdominal pain” and added that he was doing better although he was still under observation at the ICCU. An echocardiography, blood test, X-ray, and ultrasound were conducted on the CPM leader.
“He had breathing problems in the morning and was unconscious. However, he is stable now. He has been sleeping throughout the day and we are hoping he will be able to leave the hospital soon,” said DN Agarwal, executive director of AMRI.
The ailing leader was visited by a stream of visitors including his son Chandan Basu, Transport Minister Subhash Chakrabarty and his wife Ramola Chakrabarty.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee visited Basu twice, in the morning and the evening.
“He is certainly doing much better. He recognised me in the morning and spoke to me,” said Chatterjee.
In the evening, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress MP from Berhampore Adhir Choudhury visited the hospital. As the word about Basu’s hospitalisation spread, curious onlookers started gathering outside the hospital with many wanting to know his condition.
In the evening, doctors said Basu had reacted positively to initial supportive treatment and had a liquid diet in the afternoon. There have been no further complaints of pain though his blood pressure has been fluctuating.
Biman Bose, party state secretary, who flew in from Delhi on Sunday visited the hospital directly from the airport and said, “He is stable now and ate rice and fish for dinner.”
–Agencies