Former President Pranab Mukherjee's health declines: Army Hospital

Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee dies at 84

Former President Pranab Mukherjee's health has declined, as per the latest medical bulletin released by Army's Research and Referral Hospital on August 31, 2020. 

The hospital informed in  a statement today morning that the condition of the former President has declined, as he has suffered a septic shock due to his lung infection. The doctors attending to the former President informed that he continues to be in deep coma and is on ventilator support. 

Medical condition of former President #PranabMukherjee declined since Sunday. He is in septic shock due to lung infection and on ventilator support.

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 31, 2020

The 84-year-old is being managed by a team of specialists. He was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment on August 10 for an emergency surgery to remove a brain clot.

The Former President had tested positive for COVID-19 before his surgery and had himself tweeted on August 10, 2020 informing that he tested positive for COVID-19 during a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure. He has requested all those who have come in contact with him during the last week to self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19.  

On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for COVID19 today.
I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self isolate and get tested for COVID-19. #CitizenMukherjee

— Pranab Mukherjee (@CitiznMukherjee) August 10, 2020

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited the Research and Referral Hospital to enquire about the former president's health. Besides him, many political leaders including former Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted wishing the former Indian President a speedy recovery.

Wishing former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee a speedy recovery.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 10, 2020

Mukherjee was a senior Congress leader before being elected as the 13th President of India. He served as the President from July 2012 to 2017 succeeding Pratibha Patil. Current President Ram Nath Kovind succeeded him on  July 25, 2017.

Background

The other prominent Indian political figures who tested positive for COVID-19 virus include Home Minister Amit Shah. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarlilal Purohit. All of them have now recovered and tested negative for the infection.