Former Indian Ex-president Apj Abdul Kalam Passes Away After Collapsing During Lecture At Iim Shillong

Kalam (84) took ill at a function in Shillong and was rushed to the hospital, M Kharkrang, SP Khasi Hills, said.

The former President collapsed during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong at around 6.30 pm and was taken to the hospital. TV reports earlier said that Kalam suffered a massive cardiac arrest at the function at IIM Shillong.

He had been admitted to the ICU at the hospital.

"The former president was brought almost dead to our hospital. He is in a critical condition. We are trying to revive the patient," John Sailo Ryntathiang, director of Bethany Hospital, had told IANS.

"He is in the Intensive Care Unit. We are examining him. We suspect that it could be cardiac arrest," Sailo had said.

Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan and Chief Secretary PBO Warjri visited Bethany hospital where Kalam has been admitted.

Chief Secretary PBO Warjiri told reporters outside the hospital that he had spoken to Union Home Secretary LC Goyal asking for necessary arrangements to be made for carrying Kalam's body from Guwahati to Delhi on Tuesday morning.

Government will declare national mourning for seven days, said Union Home Secretary LC Goyal.

Earlier during the day, Kalam had tweeted about his function at IIM Shillong.