Press Trust of India Posted online: Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 1029 hours IST Updated: Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 2310 hours IST
New Delhi, July 27: Vice-President Krishan Kant died of a heart attack on Saturday morning, AIIMS Medical Superintendent R. Sarma said.
A three-day state mourning has been announced by the government.
Sarma said Kant who suffered a massive heart attack was brought to the hospital at 0738 hrs IST and was declared dead at 0845 hrs IST.
A team of heart specialists tried to resuscitate Kant and also put him on a pacemaker, Sarma said adding, despite best efforts he could not be revived.
The body has been taken for embalming and the process would take about three hours, he said.
Later the body will be taken to his Maulana Azad Road residence for people to pay their last respects.
Krishan Kant, who rose to prominence as a Young Turk in Congress during Indira Gandhi's time, became Vice-President in 1997 during United Front rule.
Kant was one of the quartet along with former prime minister Chandrasekhar, Mohan Dharia and Ram Dhan who formed the ginger group in Congress that was arrested on the midnight of June 25, 1975 when Gandhi imposed Emergency.
Kant, not known to be having any major health problems, was active till the last day of his life.
As chairman of Rajya Sabha, he conducted the proceedings of the House daily without fail, and on Thursday he read out the Hindi translation of the new President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, after he was sworn in at the Central Hall of Parliament.
An emergency meeting of the Union Cabinet is scheduled to be held later in the day to condole the demise of the Vice-President.
