Spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba passed away at the Sathya Sai super speciality hospital at Puttaparthi in Anantapur district, on Sunday. Doctors said he died at 7.40 am of cardio-respiratory failure. The 86-year-old was admitted to hospital on March 28 with breathing and heart problems.

Lets have a detailed report on his last journey while battling for life.. Sai Baba had spent more than three weeks on breathing support and dialysis, while struggling with multiple-organ failure at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, near his ashram in Puttaparti village. His condition since Thursday morning had been described as "very critical" by doctors attending to him.

Most of his organs were not responding to treatment. The condition of his liver and his low blood pressure were causing concern. As doctors announced his death, they appealed to people to be calm and not rush to hospital. All roads leading to the hospital have been blocked and shops have been ordered to close at Puttaparthi.

A heavy police deployment, in place for weeks as the guru's condition worsened, was manning barricades on the roads to restrict traffic in the village. Followers gathered to mourn in small groups in alleys and streets surrounding the ashram, while some began trickling into the temple complex. The news of his death plunged his followers, many of whom had thronged the town, into grief.

The body of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, was kept at Prashanti Nilayam, to enable devotees to have a last darshan. The body will be kept at Sai Kulwant Hall till tomorrow. The trust has appealed to devotees not to rush to the hospital and have a last glimpse of Baba in an orderly manner.

Published Date : Monday, 25/4/2011 1:02 PM IST