Former first lady Janaki Venkataraman dies

Janaki breathed her last at about 1630 hours at Sir Ganga Ram hospital here. She was admitted to the hospital on August 10 following a complaint of chest infection, family sources said.

Janaki is survived by three daughters-- Padma Venkataraman, Vijaya Ramachandran and Lakshmi Venkataraman. Her last rites will take place tomorrow.President Pratibha Patil, who is on a three-day tour of Kerala, condoled her death.

In a letter to her daughter Padma, Patil said, "as a first lady of the country she has performed here role with utmost grace and dignity during the tenure of R Venkataraman."

R Venkataraman, the eight President of India, held the office of the first citizen of the country from July 25, 1987 to July 25, 1992. He died due to old-age related illness in January last year at the age of 98.