The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has said that 77 people have died in Tamil Nadu because of shock and grief over the health of deceased chief minister J Jayalalithaa. The AIADMK chief had been in hospital from September 22 till she died on December 5. In a statement late on Wednesday night, the state’s ruling party announced Rs 3 lakh compensation for families of all victims. It also announced Rs 50,000 for the family of a party worker who had attempted self-immolation.
A central intelligence estimate, however, put the toll caused by Jayalalithaa’s poor health at around 30, PTI reported.
The 68-year-old AIADMK chief held the post of chief minister when she died earlier this week. She was buried at MG Ramachandran Memorial off Marina Beach in Chennai. Her death came as a huge shock to the state and party workers. She was the first chief minister to win a second consecutive term in the state in 32 years, after she was voted back to power in May’s Assembly election.
Jayalalithaa’s loyalist O Panneerselvam was sworn in as chief minister immediately after the announcement of her death on Monday night.
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