Schools and colleges closed early, attendance was thin at the educational institutions as parents preferred to keep their children home, even Central government office staff left early and shops and offices in major business districts were closed.

Police presence was strong at all traffic intersections.

This is the situation in Chennai as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s condition remains critical a day after she suffered a cardiac arrest at Apollo Hospital where she has been admitted since September 22.

The city was outwardly calm but there was an underlying tension in the air.

The scene outside the premier hospital bordered on the chaotic. Though the police tried to keep the roads to the hospital clear visitors and outpatients had to negotiate throngs of AIADMK members, the ruling party supporters, who were hoping for news of the party leader, Jayalalithaa.

Police had to continuously push and cajole the AIADMK supporters to give way for patients and ambulances.

The media team was out in strength and were corralled behind barricades. But each time a television channel crew aimed its camera at the crowd, the party workers went hysterical and started screaming their support for 'Amma’.

Adding to this the MLAs of the AIADMK and the Cabinet organised a meeting to chart out further plan of action. But there was no official word on the outcome of the meeting.

During the course of the day opposition party leaders including S Thirunavukarasar, President, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee visited the hospital and expressed their support and wishes for Jayalalithaa’s speedy recovery.

Earlier in the day, Chennai seems to have retained a level of normalcy the day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest. Shopping hubs such as Usman Road and Pondy Bazaar seemed to hold on to the buzz as expected of a working day.

Most roadside tea shops are either abuzz with discussions on Jayalalithaa's health or unusually quiet. Arumugam M runs a juice shop in T.Nagar. Usually talkative, Arumugam was busy watching the news on his smartphone and delegated the work to his worker. His tension was palpable.

Autorickshaw driver Vasanthan said he too was going on with his business as usual. "I'm being a little cautious. I usually start savaari at 7 a.m, but today I started only at 9 a.m. after watching the news," he added. Most shops lining Usman Road too were busy. But talking to one of the workers, you notice that there is a small drop in the number of customers, despite it being the festival season. This fall is the result of a combination of demonetisation and uncertainty about what might happen despite assurances from police officials.

A statement from Apollo Hospitals released a short while back states that the Chief Minister's health was very critical and she was under ECMO and other life-support systems. Twitter has not stopped humming since yesterday. Wishes for Jayalalithaa's speedy recovery continued to pour in from citizens in every corner of the country and from high-profile politicians. Security was beefed up on Greams Road, where Apollo Hospital is located, and at Poes garden, Jayalalithaa's residence.

Despite the apparent calm, the city is on edge and the tension palpable.

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