Date:27/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/27/stories/2008062755161200.htm

National

Specialists monitoring Manekshaw’s condition

Special Correspondent

Udhagamandalam: Hero of the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is critically ill.

Briefing newspersons at Wellington on Thursday, the General Officer Commanding (South) Major General E.J. Kochekkan said a medical team assisted by super specialists from New Delhi were monitoring his condition at the Military Hospital. Members of his family, including his two daughters, were with him.

He said the Field Marshal was slipping in and out of consciousness for the past four days. However, till Wednesday afternoon, he was responding and even talking.

The Commanding Officer of the hospital Draper read out a bulletin at 11.30 a.m. “Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is seriously ill and undergoing treatment in the Military Hospital. He has been in the hospital for some time due to a progressive lung disease. He has developed Acute Bronchopneumonia with associated complications and his condition has been serious for the past four days. He is being treated in the intensive care unit.

The medical authorities of the military hospital are rendering the best medical support and treatment possible. They are being assisted by a pulmonologist who has come from the Army Hospital, New Delhi. It is hoped that the Field Marshal will respond positively to the treatment being given.”