New Delhi: The condition of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao improved further with the senior Congress leader opening his eyes for the first time in last three days.

Rao shook hands with President A P J Abdul Kalam, who visited him at the AIIMS in the evening.

The 83-year-old leader, who was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on December 9 after he complained of breathlessness, had suffered a cardiac arrest soon after but was revived.

Though he continued to be on temporary pacemaker, doctors attending on him said the former Prime Minister had opened his eyes late in the evening and had recognised the people around him.

Rao had suffered severe disturbances in heart beat after which he was put on temporary pacemaker.

His blood pressure and pulse parameters are stable, the doctors said but added a round the clock check was being maintained about the functioning of his vital organs.

The Congress leader has been suffering from problems related to diabetes, coronary heart and vascular diseases, besides pulmonary fibriosis.

They said Rao opened his eyes and shook hands with Kalam, who had driven straight from the airport to meet the ailing leader.