Shivakumara Swami in critical condition

Shivakumara Swami, the head pontiff of the five centuries old Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru, who is battling lung infection is reportedly critical and has been put on ventilator, according to the doctors treating him at the mutt. The 111-year-old swami who showed signs of recovery on Sunday witnessed complications in the wee hours of Monday prompting the doctors to put him on ventilator support.

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According to Dr Parameshwara who is attending to the swami told media persons on Monday morning that swami’s health condition is ‘very critical and they have been doing their best to treat him.’ Sources in the mutt revealed to DH that swami reported variations in the blood pressure level and an infection in his lungs was also noticed during diagnosis after which he was put on ventilator support.

Meantime, the who’s who of state politics including Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, opposition leader BS Yeddyurappa and host of other leaders have cancelled their official engagements and rushing towards Siddaganga Mutt located at Kytasandra on the outskirts of Tumakuru city. Both Yeddyurappa and DCM Parameshwara have been camping at the mutt and held several rounds of meeting with junior pontiff of the mutt Siddalinga Swami, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of police and other district administration officials.

Home minister MB Patil who addressed the media outside the mutt said, “The health condition of the swami is very critical and doctors have been treating him. His recovery and responses to the treatment all these days was indeed a miracle and hope the same miracle will continue. Let’s all pray for his health and speedy recovery.”

An expert doctors’ team led by Chennai based renowned surgeon Dr Mohammed Rela has also been summoned to the mutt to oversee treatment to the seer. Several important religious leaders of the state including Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Mutt, Mysuru and Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt have also arrived at the mutt this afternoon. Religious leaders along with political personalities have been waiting outside the room of the swami in old mutt at the foothills of Siddaganga hill.

The Tumakuru district administration in consultation with the Mutt authorities have already banned the entry of devotees to see the ailing seer and cordoned off the two-kilometre area around the mutt regulating the movement of vehicles and people around mutt. Inspector General of Police, Central Range B Dayanand is supervising over the security measurements at the mutt. Praying for the speedy recovery of swami, hundreds of children studying at the mutt have been chanting hymns on the premises of the Mutt.

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