Thaindian News

Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh), April 5 (IANS) Spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba’s condition Tuesday remained critical as hundreds of his anxious devotees continued to pour in from different parts of Andhra Pradesh and other states.

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, where Sai Baba is under treatment since March 28, has been kept out of bounds for devotees as the police imposed ban orders in the pilgrim town to tackle any eventuality.

Sources close to the Sathya Sai Trust said Tuesday that Sai Baba’s condition continued to be critical.

Tension gripped the town since Monday evening when for the first time doctors attending on him confirmed that he was critical as his vital systems are not adequately responding.

As the restive crowd of devotees tried to barge into the hospital and attacked vehicles of some senior officials, the hospital issued a statement late in the night to pacify them.

Hospital director A.N. Safaya said though Sai Baba’s condition is critical, they were using every possible medical intervention and there is no cause for anxiety. He appealed to the devotees to pray for his recovery and not try to enter the hospital.

As the news of Sai Baba’s critical condition spread like wild fire, his devotees began gathering outside the hospital.

“There is no clear information about the condition of Bhagwan (god). We want to see him,” said an agitated devotee.

The police deployed forces outside the hospital as devotees from outside started arriving last night.

The irate devotees stoned the car of Anantapur district collector Janardhan Reddy.

Anticipating more trouble, a police official announced over the public address system that Sai Baba is stable and there is no need for any anxiety.

He also quoted Sai Baba’s nephew Sharavan to say that Sai Baba opened his eyes and moved his fingers when he went inside to touch his feet.

The 85-year-old spiritual leader was admitted to the hospital March 28 with pneumonia and breathing problems. The doctors also implanted a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat.

For the last three days, he is on ventilator support for helping his respiration and suction of the secretions from the lungs and also on CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) system to help the functioning of the kidneys.

Sathya Sai Baba, whose real name is Sathyanarayana Raju, had claimed in 1940 that he was an ‘avatar’ (incarnation) of god.

He became famous with his miracles but for the last two decades he had been focusing on social and charitable work.