Sai Baba's health improves, Puttaparthi relieved

A health bulletin issued in the evening by A N Safaya, director of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, where 85-year-old Sai Baba is being treated since March 28 for problems related to heart and respiration, said his condition continued to improve.

"Sri Sathya Sai Baba continues to be on ventilator support for respiration. His kidney function is being supported by Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy. There is some positive sign of recovery in the functions of the kidneys. He continues to be on treatment in the ICF of the hospital where visitors are not allowed," the bulletin said.

"The panel of doctors treating Baba are satisfied with the response he is continuing to show to the medical management given to him," it added.

Doctors said on Wednesday that he was suffering from multiple organ dysfunction and that he was responding to the treatment.

With the slight improvement in his health condition, residents of this town and devotees of the spiritual guru heaved a sigh of relief. Shopkeepers, who voluntarily shut their shops for the last few days, reopened them on Thursday. "They have kept the shops closed in the last few days out of love and devotion for Sai Baba. Now, they have reopened. It is a sign of anxiety coming down," a police officer on duty near Prasanti Nilayam, the abode of Sathya Sai Baba, said.

Authorities have allowed the public transport buses to operate from the bus complex at the Prasanthi Nilayam, from Thursday. The bus station was closed during the last few days.  Police have imposed prohibitory orders and several restrictions in the town in view of the alleged attempt by some angry locals on the vehicles of senior district officials earlier this week.

"I am happy that the Baba is recovering. Of course, I feel he is above all this. He is god," Nelly, a devotee from Venezuela, said.

The residents of the town, who have been conducting prayers for the speedy recovery of Satya Sai Baba, were a happy lot as news came that his condition was improving. Anjaneyulu, a retired school headmaster, offered coconuts at the temple of goddess Satyamma, the local deity of Puttaparthi, praying for Baba's good health. "We are happy and relieved now that Swami's condition is improving," he said.

The residents reinstalled the original idol of Satyamma in the temple two days ago after retrieving it from a pond. The original idol was earlier removed and locals believed that the removal of the original idol proved to be inauspicious to the village.