Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray died in Mumbai at 3:33pm today. He was 86. (Bal Thackeray: Life in pics)
His immediate family including son and successor Uddhav, nephew Raj Thackeray and the top leadership of the Shiv Sena were with him at his Bandra residence, Matoshree, in his last moments. (Foreign media on Bal Thackeray) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up Uddhav Thackeray to express his condolences and has urged people to maintain calm and sobriety. (Read: PM condoles Thackeray's death) | (Bal Thackeray dies: Who said what)
Massive crowds of Shiv Sena supporters gathered outside Thackeray residence within minutes of the announcement, prompting calls of calm and maintaining peace from several Sena leaders. A large contingent of policemen has been deployed to keep the crowds under control.
Thousands of personnel from the Mumbai Police have also been deployed across the city, since there is apprehension of some violence. Sena leader Rahul Narvekar has appealed for calm to all party supporters. Earlier too, Uddhav Thackeray had told Shiv Sainiks that "no damage should come to the name of Matoshree".
The death was announced at about 4:30 pm in a brief statement by doctors from Lilavati Hospital who had been treating him. "He had suffered a cardiac arrest. We could not revive him despite our best efforts. He breathed his last at around 3:30 PM," Dr Jalil Parkar, who treated the Sena chief, told reporters after emerging from the Thackeray residence.
Mr Thackeray's body will be taken in a procession at 7 am to Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party headquarters situated at Shivaji Park, where it will be kept in state for public viewing from 10 am to 6 pm tomorrow. (Read) The Sena supremo used to address massive rallies at Shivaji Park every year. Top BJP leaders including LK Advani and Narendra Modi will be in Mumbai tomorrow to pay last respects. The Sena chief is expected to be cremated at Shivaji Park tomorrow. Around 20,000 cops will be deployed for his funeral.
Mr Thackeray is survived by sons Jaidev and Uddhav, who is the executive president of the Shiv Sena, which Mr Thackeray founded in 1966.
Hundreds of Shiv Sena supporters who had gathered outside Mr Thackeray's home broke down and tried to console each other. Thousands more are expected to reach Matoshree to express their grief. Security, already present in the area around Matoshree as well as Shiv Sena Bhavan, has been stepped up again.
Mr Thackeray had been unwell since July this year when he was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital for breathlessness and constipation. He was released after a week in hospital, and was being nursed at his Bandra residence, Matoshree. The Sena chief was under constant medical supervision, with a team of doctors stationed at his home.
Mr Thackeray's health had dipped to very critical on Monday, but he made a recovery of sorts. Thousands of Shiv Sainiks had gathered outside Matoshree along with media crews. On Wednesday night at 2 am, Mr Thackeray's son Uddhav and grandson Aditya told party workers, "All efforts are on. Please pray."
Hundreds of policemen and paramilitary Rapid Action Force personnel had been called in on Wednesday night, with barricades to restrict movement around the area. Party workers began gathering at the Thackeray residence as news spread that the Shiv Sena chief's condition had deteriorated. Sources said top police officials of the city had been informed of Mr Thackeray's death in advance to give them time to make adequate security arrangements before a public announcement was made.
Many VIPs are expected to visit the Thackeray home to pay their respects. Actors Amitabh Bachchan, along with son Abhishek, and Sanjay Dutt had paid a visit to Matoshree late on Wednesday night.
