Sai Baba very critical, more forces for Puttaparthi

[1]

Spiritual leader Sai Baba's condition on Saturday continued to be very critical and the authorities are rushing more forces to this small pilgrim town to deal with any eventuality.

Doctors at Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital, where Sathya Sai Baba is undergoing treatment for the past 26 days, said his vital organs, including heart, liver, kidneys and lungs, were not functioning properly.

As the 85-year-old spiritual leader is battling for life, represetnatives of the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday held a meeting with the doctors attending on him and members of Sathya Sai Central Trust.

Minister for Major Industries J. Geeta Reddy told reporters that Sathya Sai Baba's condition remained very critical. She said her visit was aimed at ensuring coordination among doctors, the government and the trust.

She assured that all the required assistance would be rendered by the government.

Director of health and medical education Ravi Raj said 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 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 (Friday). He continues to be very critical," said a medical bulletin issued Saturday morning.

"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 incarnation of god, was admitted to the hospital 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 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 Saturday conducted searches around the airport, hospital and Prashanti Nilayam as part of security arrangements for the VIPs likely to arrive here.

Anxious devotees from different parts of the state and other states continue to pour in. They joined the prayers at Prashanti Nilayam for Sathya Sai Baba's recovery.

Some devotees, including local state legislator P. Raghunath Reddy, Saturday held prayers outside the hospital.

"We all pray for his speedy recovery so that he continues various service activities for the people," said Raghunath Reddy, who broke 101 coconuts as part of rituals.

The trust members are likely to hold a news conference later in the day as the government asked them to respond to the reports in a section of media about the alleged mismanagement of funds.

The trust, headed by Sathya Sai Baba, stays away from media but with speculations of rift among its members and the alleged transfer of funds doing the rounds, the government advised it to interact with media persons to set the record straight.