Sonia in hospital with chest infection

TURBULENT NEIGHBOURHOOD

Congress President Sonia Gandhi was hospitalised here early this morning after she complained of difficulty in breathing and her condition was showing "steady improvement".

"Her (Gandhi's) condition is stable and she had normal meals and rest," said a late night health bulletin issued by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where she is admitted.

Gandhi, 61, is "responding to treatment and showing signs of steady improvement," said the statement by B K Rao, chairman, board of management of the hospital.

Gandhi was taken to the hospital here at around 1 am after she complained of breathing difficulty.

The UPA chairperson was diagnosed with having chest infection, according to a health bulletin issued earlier in the day by the hospital.

The condition of Gandhi, who has been kept in a special room at the hospital, is now stable and she is expected to be discharged tomorrow, Congress sources said.

Gandhi was having "cough and mild breathing difficulty" when she was admitted but by evening her condition was quite stable, a hospital spokesman said.

Her children Rahul and Priyanka, who were away in the Maldives to celebrate the New Year, rushed back to the capital and went to the hospital in the evening, party sources said.