Day 8: Anna refuses drip, hospitalisation

Doctors advise the Gandhian not to go out in sun, rumours related to kidney infection fuel supporters' concern

Day 8: Anna refuses drip, hospitalisation

Doctors advise the Gandhian not to go out in sun, rumours related to kidney infection fuel supporters' concern

The 74- year old anti-corruption crusader, Anna Hazare, continued his fast for the eighth day on Tuesday. Doctors say he is fine but it would be better if he did not venture out in the sun. Hazare has lost 5.6 kg since he began his fast on August 16. "His blood pressure is normal. There is some weakness. His eyes are watery. Doctors have advised him not to venture into the sun," said Manish Sisodia, a close associate of Anna.

Earlier, a few contradictory reports were doing rounds when two associates of Anna claimed there were some renal complications.u00a0Reportedly, he has lost 600 g in the last 24 hours. His weight now is 66.4 kg. His blood pressure is 124/82 and pulse rate is 84 per minute. Traces of ketone were found in his blood. Meanwhile, Anna's team member Kiran Bedi tweeted on Tuesday evening, "Pray for Anna's health. He is reaching a difficult stage. Dr Trehan is on his way."

Volunteers try to fix the water-logged Ramlila Maidan, in New Delhiu00a0
on Tuesday. Pics/Subhash Barolia

Refuses IV drip
Doctors decided to put him on intravenous (IV) drip but Anna refused to do so before discussing it with the team. "The entire team has examined Anna and there are changes in his vital signs. We told him he needs hospitalization but he refused," said Dr. Naresh Trehan, head of the team of doctors attending to Hazare.
During the initial days, Anna would spiritedly address the gathering twice a day. But for the last two days, his condition has deteriorated. Supporters were further concerned when Kiran Bedi was quoted as saying, "Anna's blood pressure is okay but his kidney has been infected".

On Tuesday, he addressed the crowd in the morning. "Do not take to violence and if you do, the government will crush you. This is the reason the government has not been able to crush us so far," he said. He added that if one Anna dies, thousands will take his place. "I have given my heart and I'm ready to give my life to the cause too. If something happens to me, the government will understand. And even if my kidney fails, there are so many peoples here who will give theirs," he said.

Water-logging
Meanwhile, sudden downpour in the Capital gave volunteers a tough time and many were seen draining out water from Ramlila Maidan. DU Student and an Anna supporter, Anurag Yadav, said, "This has not affected our enthusiasm."