The health of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray deteriorated further on Wednesday evening causing huge concern in Maharashtra. He is on a life support system due to his respiratory illness and other age related ailments.

Even as thousands of party men stood outside his residence Matoshree in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, praying for his life, Mumbai city is on the edge. Maharashtra Government has issued a red alert in the State.

All roads leading to his residence have been barricaded. Even senior party leaders had to abandon their vehicles near the Western Express Highway and reach Matoshree on foot. 

Thackeray’s son Uddhav, who is also the working president of the party appealed to his party men to maintain peace and said that Balasaheb has strong will power and he will come out of this situation. Sena men should be hopeful, let's pray for his speedy recovery, he said.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan along with his son Abhishek visited Thackeray and enquired about his health. The crowd outside Matoshree was so huge and charged that even Bachchans found it difficult to gain access to the residence. They suffered minor cuts while jostling for space in the crowd.

Actor and active member of civil society, Nana Patekar also called upon the Thackeray family.  

All members of the Thackeray family, including estranged nephew Raj Thackeray, top Shiv Sena leaders such as former Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, close confidant Subhash Desai and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vinod Tawade are camping at the residence since midnight. 

rahul.wadke@thehindu.co.in

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