Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital Director A N Safaya stated in a press release that Sai Baba was not adequately responding to medical treatment.
In the wake of contradictory information about Satya Sai Baba's health condition, set afloat by the television and print media, thousands of his devotees flocked Puttaparthi on Monday to avail themselves of a darshan of their beloved Baba.
Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital Director A N Safaya in a press statement said, "Baba's vital systems are not responding adequately, and his health condition is critical," and added, "Satya Sai Baba has been on ventilator support for the last 3 days to help his respiration, and is undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy system (CRRT), a type of slow dialysis, to support the functioning of his kidneys."
Puttaparthi's atmosphere has been dense with tension since Monday evening when, for the first time, doctors attending to Sai Baba confirmed that he was critically ill as his vital systems were not adequately responding to the medical treatment.
Prohibitory orders, under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, have been clamped in Puttaparthi after followers of the Baba, agitated at not being allowed his darshan, allegedly tried to attack District Collector K Janardhan Reddy on Monday.
Earlier, responding to the comment that correct information about the spiritual leader's health was being witheld, Minister For Major Industries J Geetha Reddy, on Sunday had said, "There is certainly no secrecy. We all know that Baba had a hypertensive attack, and that a pacemaker was implanted in his heart. His renal output was less, so he was put on haemodialysis. Baba is conscious, and his BP and heart rate are stable."
Revenue Minister Raghuveera Reddy on Monday announced that the state government is doing all it can to support Sathya Sai Baba's recovery, and requested the public not to panic.
Amongst the VIPs visiting Puttaparthi today are Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N KIran Kumar Reddy, opposition leader and Telugu Desam Party President N Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Maharashtra's former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.
The 85-year-old Satya Sai Baba was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Super Speciality Hospital at Prashantigram, Puttaparthi, on March 28th when he complained of respiration-related problems.