The body of the Delhi gang rape victim, who died at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore this morning, is being flown back to India by a special chartered flight today. Indian High Commissioner to Singapore T C A Raghavan told reporters that the family of the girl including her parents will accompany the body. Addressing a press conference, he said the formalities, including getting a death certificate, for sending her body were being completed.

A statement by the well-known multi-organ transplant facility hospital said the 23-year-old victim died at 2:15 A M Indian Standrd Time early this morning. The patient's family and officials of the Indian High Commission in Singapore were by her side at the time of her death.

The girl who was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a Delhi bus on the 16th of this month was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on Thursday in an extremely critical condition after undergoing three operations in Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. The Singapore hospital chief executive officer Dr Kelvin Loh said in a statement that the patient's condition took a turn for the worse last night. Her vital signs started deteriorating with severe organ failure despite doctors fighting for her life, including putting her on maximum artificial ventilation support, optimal antibiotic doses as well as stimulants which maximise body's capability to fight infections.

Indian High Commissioner in Singapore T.C.A. Raghavan told reporters that the parents of the girl have requested to make arrangements for sending her body to India. He said the final few hours was a trying time for the girl's family and they bore the entire process with a great deal of fortitude and courage. Raghavan said the family has requested that their privacy be respected in their hour of grief. He said the best possible treatment was given to the victim, who wanted to live.

The incident has triggered public protests in India that left one policeman dead in Delhi. The Delhi Police has said it will invoke murder charges against accused in the case.

Security in the national capital has been stepped up with police closing India Gate and Raisina Hill for the public. A large number of police personnel have been deployed at Rajpath and the stretch connecting India Gate and Raisina Hill where largescale protests were witnessed last weekend. A senior police official said the entire central Vista including Rajpath, Vijay Chowk and all roads leading to India Gate will be closed for general traffic.

Ten Metro stations in Central Delhi have been closed down till further orders, as a precautionary measure. These are Pragati Maidan, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Race Course, Jor Bagh and Khan Market.However, inter-change facility will be available at Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat stations.