Kolkata:
The condition of 95-year-old Marxist leader Jyoti Basu, hospitalised with pneumonia, turned "very critical" today and he was put on a ventilator after developing acute breathing problems.
"His condition is unstable and very critical," Dr A K Maity, Basu's personal physician and also a member of the medical board constituted at the AMRI hospital, Salt Lake where the former West Bengal Chief Minister is admitted, said.
A medical bulletin issued by the hospital said, "Basu has been put on ventilation following acute respiratory problem due to deteriorating lung condition, but his heart and his kidneys are functioning normally so far."
Basu, who was admitted to the hospital on Friday last, was improving till yesterday, but his health parameters turned erratic early this morning and there was no option but to put him on life support, Superintendent of AMRI Hospital Dr
Debashish Sharma said.
The medical board would meet again in the evening and another bulletin would be issued at 6:00 PM, Sharma said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters at the state secretariat, "Basu's condition is not good." Prime Minister Manmohan Singh telephoned to inquire about Basu's condition, he said.
Many political leaders both from the Left Front and the Opposition visited the hospital.