• A Medical bulletin released by the hospital later in the evening stated that Bhattacharjee was admitted with lower respiratory tract infection and Type II respiratory failure.
• The hospital confirmed that the leader was put on non-invasive ventilation support, antibiotics and other supportive management while reports of the necessary investigations were awaited. “He is haemodynamically stable,” the hospital stated.
• A nine-member medical board, comprising experts in medicine, critical care, cardiology, pulmonology, internal medicine and anaesthesiology, is closely monitoring Bhattacharjee’s progress, the bulletin stated.

Former Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of Woodlands Hospital in Alipore after his health condition sharply deteriorated on Saturday on account of his chronic lung ailment.

Seventy-nine-year old Bhattacharjee, a long-term patient of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who needs BiPap and nebulizer support to push air in lungs, was not keeping well for the past few days, it was learnt from reliable sources.

His condition worsened on Saturday morning after doctors detected a sharp fall in his blood oxygen (SpO2) count accompanied by massive respiratory distress and profuse perspiration. Bhattacharjee, reportedly, had issues maintaining the necessary blood pressure levels as well.

Enhanced levels of nebulization and BiPap support failed to relieve him of his distress and doctors took no chances, advising immediate hospitalization.

The former chief minister was brought to the hospital in a critical condition at around 4.20 pm where a team of doctors remained in wait to examine him. Hospital sources confirmed that he was admitted to a special cabin (No 516) having Intensive Care Unit (ICU) support systems following his preliminary chest X-ray and CT scan tests.

The primary effort is to increase Bhattacharjee’s blood oxygen saturation and stabilize his condition, doctors said.

A special medical board was formed, which included Left leader Fuad Halim, to assess and address Bhattacharjee’s ailments.

An ambulance loaded with critical care support was dispatched from the hospital to transport the ailing former chief minister which reached its destination in quick time, thanks to a green corridor that was set up by the city police.

According to last received reports, Bhattacharjee was being administered CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) support to ease his respiratory distress and to which he showed initial positive response. Blood samples for necessary examination were also collected on war footing, it was learnt.

While chief minister Mamata Banerjee reached out to the kin of the former chief minister and conveyed the state government’s decision to shoulder all medical expenses, Governor CV Ananda Bose was among the first dignitaries to reach the hospital and inquire about the Left leader’s health and speak to the ailing leader’s relatives.

“We are deeply concerned and pained by Budddadeb Bhattacharjee’s hospitalization but we are also sure that he will get well soon. Bhattacharjee was a great leader who led the state for a long time. He is greatly respected for his statesmanship and his contribution to the state. We pray for his speedy recovery,” Bose told reporters before reaching the hospital.

Bhattacharjee, who has remained largely confined to his Palm Avenue apartment in South Calcutta for the past few years on account of his pulmonary ailment, has been in and out of hospitals in the last couple of years. He was admitted to the same hospital back in May 2021 after he had contracted Covid and spent about a fortnight there before he was released.

Back home, his condition deteriorated again and the leader had to be admitted in another hospital on CIT Road in June that year.

Since then the former chief minister was forced to remain indoors totally and even missed casting his votes in the state and municipal body polls.

The latest attack on the leader’s failing health could be a result of the climate change from summer to monsoon that has triggered various forms of viral ailments across the city, doctors opined.