The state government on Sunday declared a 4-day mourning period as a tribute to Sathya Sai Baba
who passed away at the Sri Satya Sai Insititute of Higher Medical Sciences in Puttaparthi in the Anantapur district earlier in the day.
In a statement, the state government said that the seer's last rites will be performed with state honours.
Sathya Sai Baba will be buried inside the Sai Kulwant Hall in Prashanti Nilayam on Wednesday morning. The state of mourning will continue till Wednesday.
The statement also said that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has declared a public holiday in the Anantapur district on Wednesday.
Kiran Kumar Reddy, in his message expressing grief over Sathya Sai Baba's demise, said that Baba had rendered "unparalleled services to humanity in myriad ways".
He added, "Satya Sai Baba was a symbol of love, affection and passion. He had given his great self to the service of humanity in the form of various services, not only to our state and our country, but also to the entire world."
He averred that Sathya Sai Baba would be remembered for ages to come by all sections of people from all over the world. (INN)