Jammu, Apr 15: The Union Minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah was hospitalized on Friday after he suffered a bout of vomiting.
 He reached Jammu from New Delhi this morning to attend a function in the city.
 The former Chief Minister was rushed to the Gandhi Nagar hospital after he had a bout of vomiting and complained of nausea. It all happened when he was on his way to Kala Kendra to attend a function in Bikram Chowk area of Jammu city. 
 “He was complaining of nausea and vomiting at his residence in New Delhi since last night and the process continued till he landed at Jammu Airport this morning. He went to Gandhi Nagar hospital where doctors immediately put him on intravenous fluids,” sources told Greater Kashmir.
 The hospital authorities immediately called Gastroenterologist and Cardiologist from Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu. He was discharged after 3-hours with doctors advising him not to travel much at least for the day. His condition was stated to be stable.
 “He was stable when we allowed him to go to home,” said Dr Bharat Bhushan Gupta, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology GMCH, who treated the minister.
 Dr Gupta said that he (Farooq) had mild dehydration but thereafter they immediately put him on intravenous fluids and he recovered. “We have advised him to take only fruits.”
 Sources said that Farooq had some snacks during a function on Thursday evening in New Delhi, which led to some sort of food poisoning resulting in mild dehydration.
 As the word about NC president being hospitalized spread most of the state ministers, legislators and officials rushed to the hospital to know about his well-being.
  The Governor N N Vohra was the first to arrive at the hospital followed by the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was in town to attend the wedding of his brother’s daughter. Chief Minster Omar Abdullah, the son of Farooq, also reached  the hospital.
 After doctors discharged Farooq, Omar took him in his own vehicle and left for his house.
 After meeting the NC president, Azad remarked, “He complained of some gastro problem but now he is fine and is getting treatment.”
 Talking to media persons after coming out of the hospital, Farooq remarked, “By the grace of God, I am fine. I had some gastro problem.”
 The 73-year old NC president and three-time Chief Minister of the state, in his hilarious way of talking, further remarked: “Abhi to main jawan hoon (I am still young). Now I am better. But I have been advised by doctors not to travel back to Delhi, so I am going home.”
 Earlier, the medical superintendent of the hospital, Madhu Khullar however said the union minister was on drip. “It appears to be dehydration caused by gastric problem,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST