CHANDIGARH: Former Indian President Giani Zail Singh died on Dec. 25 mornings after battling for life for 27 days in the Post Graduate Institute of Research and Education (PGI) here.
His wife, son and three daughters were at his bedside when the end came at 7:40 A.M.
Zail Singh was admitted to the intensive care unit of PGI on Nov. 29 after being seriously injured when his car collided with a truck near Bunga Sahib in Ropar district when he was returning to Chandigarh from Anandpur Sahib.
He later developed other complications and his condition became serious on Dec. 4.
The doctors had to perform an operation on Dec. 5 to put a tube in his wind pipe as he was unable to breathe. The following day he was given oxygen and put on assisted ventilation. The Giani slipped into a state of drowsiness on Dec. 7 and since then he did not regain consciousness. He was maintained on various artificial support systems following the malfunctioning of his vital organs.
A veteran freedom fighter, Zail Singh was an active politician in independent India. He was elected Chief Minister of Punjab in 1972 and was India’s Home Minister in Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet in 1982 when chosen as the ruling party’s presidential candidate.
He was elected President in July 1982 a post he held till 1987.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 6, 1995
