Pranab Mukherjee admitted to Army RR Hospital

New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was today admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital here this morning, where he was being treated for serious injuries received following an accident at Birhattala in Nadia district of West Bengal.

Mr Mukherjee was shifted here for 'specialised attention' though his condition is said to be stable, according to doctors attending to him at the country's premier Army medical establishment here.

A CT Scan will be done on him to gauge the extent of injuries received, they said.

Commandant O P Mathew, who was supervising the treatment of the former Defence minister said a close watch was being kept on the minister's health.

Mr Sanjay Baru, Media Advisor to the PM, said his health condition was being monitored by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who has wished him a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, Dr Singh met the injured minister at the Palam Airport here. He enquired about his health and wished him speedy recovery.

Dr Manmohan Singh was on his way to Asom when he met Mr Mukherjee at the airport.

The External Affairs Minister was seriously injured and received 12 stitches on his head, when a stone-laden lorry collided head-on with his car at Birhattala area under Bethuadahari Police Station in West Bengal at 2115 hrs yesterday.

He was rushed to Bethuadahari Grameen hospital and later shifted to Shaktinagar District hospital at Krishnagar for treatment.

Mr Mukherjee was later brought to Kolkata.

The accident occurred when the tyre of the lorry got deflated and the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Mr Mukherjee was returning from Baharampore in Murshidabad district in West Bengal after inaugurating a book fair.

UNI