U R Ananthamurthy, veteran Kannada writer passes away

BANGALORE: Jnanpith awardee and renowned Kannada writer U R Ananthamurthy was in critical condition and was undergoing treatment on multi-support system. The writer who was hospitalised for infection and fever passed away few hours ago.

The condition of 82-year-old Murthy, admitted 10 days ago, had deteriorated further and it was being closely monitored with multiple support system including dialysis, support for blood pressure, antibiotics for infection, and other measures, Manipal Hospital Medical director and chairman — medical advisory board H Sudarshan Ballal told reporters here.

"...Ananthamurthy has been unwell for a while, he had multiple problems including kidney disease for which he had been on dialysis for the last few years..," Ballal said.

He said Murthy was hospitalized with infection and "his condition has deteriorated in the last day or so".

Stating that the writer was being very closely watched by the intensive care and nephrology team, he said, "...we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to make him better".

Also read: U R Ananthmurthy was a towering literary figure

Despite his kidney ailment, Murthy was very active, both physically and mentall,y including extensive travelling and he took up lot of assignments. However, in the last 10 to 15 days, his condition worsened "to some extent", he said.

"We certainly hope our efforts will be fruitful and with God's blessings he will improve. However, it is too early to say how soon and how well he will improve but we will certainly continue our efforts," he said.

He said a team of about six to eight doctors and eight to ten paramedics were taking care of him. "In this kind of critical situation we monitor on minute-to-minute basis..."