Sathya Sai passes away: Two-day mourning in Karnataka

Expressing grief over the death of godman Sathya Sai Baba, the Karnataka government has declared a two-day mourning in the state from Monday.

Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa announced the decision even as he left for Puttaparthi on Sunday evening to pay his homage to Baba.

“Sai Baba was not just a godman for his devotees. He is a model for the entire world in devoting his life and resources for the welfare of humanity,” Yeddyurappa said as he left for Puttaparthi.

The KSRTC central bus stand in Majestic area witnessed tense moments on Sunday afternoon as thousands of Baba devotees from Bangalore, Kolar, Hoskote, and other places arrived to catch the bus to Puttaparthi.

The skeletal bus services to Baba’s spiritual centre in Ananthpur district, where Puttaparthi is located, proved grossly inadequate as the devotees’ number kept swelling.

Angry devotees pleaded with the authorities to operate additional schedules to Puttaparthi and KSRTC was forced to accede to their demand.

“Additional buses will be provided not only on Sunday, but even on Monday and Tuesday. I have instructed KSRTC authorities to ensure that the devotees are not inconvenienced. Adequate precautions have been taken to maintain law and order in the state in the light of Baba’s death,” R Ashoka, home and transport minister, said.

The additional services to Puttaparthi will be run from Bangalore as well as other parts of the state.