Chennai : Former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi passed away after battling illness at the Kauvery hospital in Chennai on Tuesday. “With deep anguish, we announce the demise of our beloved Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi on 07.08.2018 at 06.10 pm. Despite the possible efforts by our team of doctors and nurses to resuscitate him, he failed to respond,” the hospital said in its medical bulletin.

“We profoundly mourn the loss of one of the tallest leaders of India and we share the grief of family members and fellow Tamilians worldwide,” the hospital further said.

The former Tamil Nadu chief minister was admitted to the hospital following a dip in his blood pressure last month. On July 31, the hospital had said Karunanidhi would require an extended period of hospitalisation due to “decline” in his general health, although his vital parameters have normalised.