World spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba passes away

Puttaparthi: World spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba who has millions of followers in India and abroad passes away today due to cardiac and respiratory failure after a prolonged illness. He was 85.

‘Sathya Sai Baba is no more with us physically. He left his body at 7.40 a.m. due to cardiac and respiratory failure,’ said a statement from the Sathya Sai Baba super-speciality hospital where he had been admitted March 27.

The news of his death plunged his followers, many of whom had thronged the town, into grief.Baba’s body will lie in state at Sai Kulwant Hall here for two days — Monday and Tuesday, the bulletin says.

Shops ordered to close at Puttaparthi The spiritual leader was 84-years-old .He has followers in over 178 countries .In the Saturday evening bulletin, the doctors had termed Baba’s condition as very critical.

Fearing the worst, hundreds of devotees in the town broke down as their hopes for recovery of the 85-year-old spiritual guru appear to be fading.

Major Industries Minister Geeta Reddy and senior government officials rushed to the hospital Sunday morning and were holding meeting with doctors and trust officials before making an announcement.

The state government has gone on high alert. More than 6,000 policemen were rushed to the town for deployment and to make arrangements for the visits of VIPs.

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