Prohibitory orders were clamped this pilgrim town of Anantpur district in Andhra Pradesh as reports about deteriorating health of Sri Sathya Sai Baba attracted large number of his devotees.
The town, 150 km from Bangalore, was placed under police cordon as over 2000 policemen were posted in and around the Sathya Sai Institute of Medical Sciences (SSIMS), where the spiritual guru was admitted last month with a heart condition, lung congestion and kidney failure.
Institute Director Dr A N Safaya said Sathya Sai Baba’s condition was critical and ‘all his organs are showing very poor response to treatment’.
“However, most of the parameters have been kept at nearly normal levels by the use of appropriate medicine,” he said.
An uneasy calm prevailed in this town of 25,000 people as shopkeepers downed the shutters while schools and colleges remained closed.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 were clamped in the town preventing assembly of more than four persons.
Police have also erected barricades on all the roads leading to the town and are checking every vehicle entering the town. According to police sources, five layers of security have been thrown around the town to prevent any incident.
Anxious devotees tried to enter the hospital but were prevented by the police. They demanded that the condition of Sai baba should be video graphed and screened.
{{/usCountry}}Anxious devotees tried to enter the hospital but were prevented by the police. They demanded that the condition of Sai baba should be video graphed and screened.
{{/usCountry}}Majority of Sathya Sai Baba's disciples prayed for his better health at his ashram, Prashanti Nilayam.
Meanwhile, trustees of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust are expected to hold a meeting to discuss various issues related to the organization.