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| Special Security Force personnel walk past a billboard of Sathya Sai Baba near the airport at Puttaparthi ahead of the expected arrival of flights carrying high-profile guests. Sai Baba remained in a critical condition as devotees prayed for a miracle to save his life |
The health of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba continued to be very critical yesterday and the authorities were rushing more security forces to this small pilgrim town to deal with any eventuality.
Doctors at the Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital, where Sai Baba was admitted 26 days ago, said his vital organs, including heart, liver, kidneys and lungs, were not functioning properly.
As the 85-year-old spiritual leader was battling for life, representatives of the Andhra Pradesh government yesterday held a meeting with the doctors and members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust.
Minister for Major Industries J Geeta Reddy told reporters that Sathya Sai Baba’s condition remained very critical. She said the government would render all the required assistance.
Director of health and medical education Ravi Raj said Sathya Sai Baba’s pulse rate and blood pressure had significantly come down.
“Considering his present condition, we can’t say what will happen tomorrow,” Raj said.
Earlier, a health bulletin issued by the hospital said the guru continued to be very critical.
“Sri Sathya Sai Baba continues to be in the same critical condition as yesterday. He continues to be very critical,” the bulletin issued yesterday morning said.
“He is still on ventilator support. A cycle of slow haemodialysis has been completed on him this morning,” said hospital director A N Safaya.
Sathya Sai Baba, whom his devotees see as an incarnation of god, was admitted to the hospital on March 28 with breathing problems.
Meanwhile, fearing the worst as Baba’s condition became very critical, the authorities have rushed more police forces to the pilgrim town. The town was abuzz with activity as senior civil and police officials were holding meetings to make preparations for the visit of VIPs and a large number of devotees.
More than 1,500 policemen were being mobilised from different parts of Andhra Pradesh. This is in addition to the 3,000 policemen already deployed in the town.
Bomb disposal and dog squads yesterday conducted searches around the airport, hospital and Prashanti Nilayam as part of security arrangements for the VIPs likely to arrive here.
Anxious devotees from all over the world continue to pour in. They joined prayers at Prashanti Nilayam for Sathya Sai Baba’s recovery.
Some devotees, including local state legislator P Raghunath Reddy, yesterday held prayers outside the hospital.
“We all pray for his speedy recovery so that he continues various service activities for the people,” said Reddy, who broke 101 coconuts as part of rituals.
The trust members are likely to hold a news conference as the government asked them to respond to reports about the alleged mismanagement of funds.