Pranab Mukherjee 'extremely critical,' prayers on for his recovery

New Delhi: The National Capital on Wednesday joined the nation in praying for speedy recovery of former president Pranab Mukherjee whose condition further deteriorated this morning as he remained on ventilator support.

According to reports, special prayers and pujas are being organised by his followers in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and some other places across country wishing his early recovery.

On Tuesday, a special puja was organised at the ancestral house of Mr Mukherjee, at  Mirati village in Birbhum district in Bengal and prayers were also held at Kirnahar in the same district in honour of him.

''The condition of Mukherjee, who underwent life-saving emergency surgery for brain clot on August 10, is very critical and it has not shown any improvement,'' sources linked to Army's R&R Hospital, where the former president was admitted on Monday night in a critical condition and subsequently underwent an emergency       surgery, said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has visited the Army Hospital and enquired about his health.

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu spoke to Sharmishtha Mukherjee, daughter of Mr Mukherjee, on Tuesday and enquired about his condition.

On Tuesday, the octogenarian's son-Abhijit Mukherjee-the former MP from Jangipur-said his father was responding to treatment "slowly." According to him, his father had probably fallen in the bathroom or his head banged on the wall on Sunday night. 

The eighty-four-year-old "Bharat Ratna" Mr Mukherjee on Monday was rushed to the hospital after his collapse in the bathroom.The medics there diagnosed him with Covid-19 pandemic.

"On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for COVID-19 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, "  Mr Mukherjee posted on his twitter account on Monday.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her concern over Mr  Mukherjee testing positive for COVID-19 and wished him a speedy recovery.

Taking to her tweeter handle on Tuesday, Ms Banerjee said, "Concerned to hear about Former

President Pranab Mukherjee Da testing positive for #COVID19. " My prayers are with him & his family during this time and I wish him a speedy recovery, " she added.(UNI)