The condition of spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba remained critical on Tuesday as there was no response to the continued renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for helping in improving kidney functioning.
The 85-year-old Baba, who was admitted to the super speciality hospital at Prashantigram on March 28 following complaints of chest and lung congestion, continued to be in the same condition as on Monday. However, his level of consciousness has considerably improved.
The health bulletin issued by Dr. A. N. Safaya, Director, Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, said the other vital systems of Sai Baba -- heart functioning with the support of pacemaker and lungs on the respirator -- remained stable. “He still continues to be on assisted ventilation through ventilator and CRRT devices, a slow dialysis process to assist his kidneys”.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the Baba’s health at a meeting with Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy and senior officials on Tuesday morning. He rushed Principal Secretary, Health, P.V. Ramesh, and Principal Secretary, Finance, L. V. Subrahmanyam, to Puttaparthi to coordinate with the Sathya Sai Central Trust to provide logistic support and coordinate between different teams of doctors.
Mr. Raghuveera Reddy told reporters later that though the Chief Minister himself planned to visit Puttaparthi, the idea was dropped on the advice of doctors as it could cause inconvenience to patients in the intensive care unit.
The Minister said the Government was prepared to provide all the assistance required and said the condition of the Baba, though critical, was not irretrievable. He urged people not to believe in rumours as Sai Baba’s condition was being monitored on a minute-to-minute basis and transparency would be maintained in release of information on his health condition.
Meanwhile, a curfew-like atmosphere is prevailing in Puttaparthi town with police clamping prohibitory orders in the area. Shops have been closed and vehicular movement tightly restricted by police who are not allowing the devotees of Sai Baba from gathering on the roads leading to Prashantigram.
Several check posts had been set up on roads leading to Puttaparthi while security had been beefed up outside the hospital after the restive devotees made a vain bid to enter the premises to have a darshan of the Baba.