The Hindu Business Line : Ambani's condition still critical

There is "no change'' in the condition of Mr Ambani, said Dr. Vernon D'sa, Medical Director of Breach Candy hospital, where Mr. Ambani is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit following a stroke he suffered.

Dr D'sa told prespersons here that doctors continued to monitor the situation and that Mr Ambani's condition remained the "same as yesterday''.

"A CT scan was done yesterday. Mr Ambani's EEG reports are favourable,'' Dr D'sa said.

An official statement from the Reliance group said: "Shri Dhirubhai Ambani's condition during the day though critical, has been stable and he continues to receive the highest quality care at the intensive care unit of the Breach Candy hospital, Mumbai.''

Meanwhile, work continued as usual at all the Reliance offices and factories across the country, said a spokesperson for the group.

This was in keeping with the work ethic always advocated by the senior Ambani, said a senior executive with the group. "This has percolated so thoroughly down the management line that nothing will disturb our functioning.

"Whatever the crisis, whatever the situation, he believed that work must go on. In fact, he never believed in the five-day working week, we have always observed a six-day week and continue to do so. This is the ethic we are going by, though we are quite shaken by the developments,'' said one executive.

Several prayer meetings were held across the country for Mr. Ambani. There was one at his own Cuffe Parade residence in Mumbai; and another organised by some of the employees of IPCL in which the Reliance group only recently took a strategic stake.

The high-profile stream of visitors to Breach Candy hospital continued unabated. Among those who called on the ailing corporate leader were Mr Digvijay Singh, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh; Mr. Praful Patel and Mr Pritish Nandy, MPs; Mr Digvijay Khanvilkar, Health Minister, Maharashtra; Mr Chandrakant Khaire, Shiv Sena leader and film star Mr. Anupam Kher.

Mr. Amitabh Bachchan who had visited yesterday as well, dropped in again as did theSamajwadi Party leader, Mr. Amar Singh.

The corporate heads who paid a visit included Mr Madhur Bajaj, Mr Shekhar Bajaj, L&T CEO and Managing Director Mr. A M Naik, Chief of the Eenadu group, Mr Ramoji Rao, and Mr Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Enterprises.

Agency reports said that Mr Ambani's case papers had been sent abroad for expert opinion. They quoted Mr. Vijay Krishna, CEO, Breach Candy hospital: "No foreign doctors are coming, but we have sent Mr Ambani's case papers abroad,'' he said.

He, however, did not name any hospital or specialist.

The reports said the President, Mr K R Narayanan, the Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee, and the Opposition leader, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, enquired about Mr Ambani's health.

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