Chennai: Ailing Union Minister Murasoli Maran was flown to the United States by a special aircraft from Chennai on November 14 morning for specialised treatment.

The 'flying ambulance', also carrying doctors, paramedics and Maran's daughter Anbukarasi, took off from Meenambakkam Airport at 07:00 hours (IST).

Earlier, Maran was brought to the airport in a special ambulance from the corporate Apollo hospital around 04:00 hours (IST) with the speed jet scheduled to leave at 04.50 hours (IST). But, the departure was delayed due to foggy conditions.

Maran's wife Maliga, who was also scheduled to accompany him, opted out due to paucity of accommodation in the small aircraft. She is likely to fly to Houston in a couple of days.

Maran, who was admitted to the Apollo Hospital on September 23 last, is being shifted to Houston's Methodist Hospital and Research Institute, Houston, where he will receive specialised treatment for heart, kidney and other organs.

Maran, who underwent a high-risk surgery for replacement of an artificial mitral valve, developed complications later due to infection and has since been in a critical condition.

The Apollo hospital in a release said he was being taken to the Houston for 'rehabilitation and after care".

The doctors accompanying Maran are Gopal Parthasarthy, Pauljude Ramesh and Sridhar while the nurses are Vidya Srikant and Jacqueline Ward, who arrived in the high- speed aircraft, belonging to Aero Care of West Chicago in the state of Illinois.

PTI