Chennai: The Apollo Hospital, which had turned a virtual fortress for 75 days since AIADMK supremo and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa was admitted here on September 22, is now back to its old self.
The hospital premises, which was swarming with political leaders, AIADMK functionaries, police personnel and print and electronic journalists for over two months is serene now, with only patients visiting it.
Heavy police deployment has been withdrawn with only a few of them continuing to be on the spot as a matter of caution.
Soon after Jayalalithaa was admitted, a security blanket was thrown in and around Greams Lane, where the hospital is located, with gun toting policemen stationed there.
An auto rickshaw stand just opposite the hospital where usually about 20 to 25 auto rickshaws used to be parked was moved out by the police.
Barricades were put up at all approach points vehicles allowed in only after being questioned by police personnel.
"Now we are back after 75 days (and) all these days we had to operate from elsewhere," K Shankar, an auto driver at the stand, told PTI.
G Sukumar, another auto driver who ferried at least 30 patients a day free of cost for more than two months said, "I did all that (as part of prayers) so that Amma recovers ... even God has not helped us."
A patient, who did not want to be identified, said though there was absolutely no bar on patients visiting the hospital, restrictions put in place by police as part of security measures caused inconvenience.
A police official on the spot told PTI: "We will be here for some more days. We do not expect any violence... Only five of us are here and it is part of routine arrangements during such situations."
Violence had broken out on December 5 evening in front of the hospital as enraged AIADMK supporters pushed down barricades, threw water bottles and pelted stones at the hospital gate after some Tamil TV channels flashed news about Jayalalithaa's death, which later turned out to be false.
Police had to resort to baton-charge to disperse the crowd.
68-year-old Jayalalithaa died on Monday night after a prolonged illness.
Meanwhile, Apollo Hospitals organised a condolence meeting in memory of Jayalalithaa. "Today, a condolence meeting was organised at the Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, to pay tribute to our beloved Puratchi Thalaivi. #AmmaForever", the hospital said in a tweet. State Principal Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan, Apollo Hospitals Managing Director Preetha Reddy were among those who took part in the meeting.
