Thursday, December 23 2004 16:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao is dead, his aide Chetan Sharma said. Rao, 83, who was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) with complaint of breathlessness on December 9, breathed his last this afternoon (Dec 23, 2004) in the hospital.

Rao died of cardiac arrest. The death came at 2:40 hrs (IST). One of his sons Prabhakar Rao was at his bedside.

While his wife had predeceased him, he leaves three sons, one of whom, P V Ranga Rao was a Minister in Andhra Pradesh and five daughters.

Rao, the first Prime Minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to complete a full five-year term in office between 1991 and 1996 had a history of heart problem and had undergone a surgery.

Even after the latest bout of problem, Rao made a recovery after virtually sinking into a coma and had talked to visitors including President A P J Abdul Kalam. He had suffered a cardiac arrest after his admission to AIIMS.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee condoled the death of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao.

In a message, the senior BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader expressed deepest condolences at the demise.

Party President L K Advani also condoled the death.

President A P J Abdul Kalam mourned the death of former Prime Minister saying that the nation has lost a great leader.

Kalam, who is in Simla on a visit, expressed his sorrow and grief over the death of Rao.

Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee broke the news to the House. Speaker Somnath Chatterjee described Rao as an "outstanding statesman".

In the Upper House Minister of State for Parliament Affairs Suresh Pachauri informed members of the demise after which Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat recalled the former Prime Minister's services to the nation.

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die following the death and two minutes of silence was observed.

Minister of State for Health Panabaka Lakshmi told reporters that last night (Dec 22, 2004) Rao had progressive hypotension and the blood pressure fell this morning. He was given a massage therapy.

She said that he was suffering from cognitive heart and respiratory problems. He was put on life support system and had stabilised before his health condition reversed today, she added.