Former Kerala CM Karunakaran continues to be critical

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The condition of ailing veteran Congress leader and former Kerala chief minister K Karunakaran, hospitalised here, continued to be critical, a medical bulletin said today.

"There is no change in his condition. He is still on total ventilator support," the bulletin issued by the Aanathapuri hospital, where he is undergoing treatment, said.

However, there was a slight improvement in the oxygen content in his blood, it said.

93-year-old Karunakaran was admitted to the hospital on Friday for fever and respiratory problems. Though he had initially responded to medicines, his condition worsened yesterday and he was put on a ventilator.

A panel of doctors was constantly monitoring the condition of Karunakaran, a four-time chief minister, and he continued to receive medication to cure infections, the bulletin said.