Former President K R Narayanan, who was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi on October 29 in a 'very critical' condition, passed away Wednesday. He was 85.

Narayanan died at 5.45 pm, sources said.

Narayanan had acute artery blockages and had slipped into a coma last Wednesday, the hospital had announced. He had been put on a ventilator after medical evaluation revealed evidence of pneumonia.

He is survived by wife Usha and two daughters, Amrita and Chitra, who is India's Ambassador to Turkey. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] visited the Intensive care unit ward of the hospital to inquire about his health.

Narayanan, a career diplomat before entering politics in 1984, was the unanimous choice of political parties when he became President in 1997 for a term till 2002. He was elected from Ottapalam (reserved) constituency in Kerala [Images] thrice consecutively in 1984, 1989 and 1991 and as Vice President in 1992.

Narayanan had served as Minister for Science and Technology and Minister of State for Defence in the Rajiv Gandhi government. During his distinguished career in foreign service under the tutelage of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, he had also served as Ambassador in China.

With inputs from PTI

K R Narayanan on rediff.com:
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KR Narayanan's farewell address to Parliament
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