Padma Shri awardee Baba Sivanand passes away at 128 in Varanasi
Varanasi, May 4 (PTI): Padma Shri spiritual guru Baba Sivanand died here of health complications. His disciples claim he was 128.
Baba Sivanand had been admitted to BHU Hospital on April 30 with some health issues. He died Saturday night.
His body has been kept at his residence in Kabirnagar Colony for the people to pay their last respects. His last rites will be performed later this evening, the disciples said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X hailed the guru for inspiring generations and termed his death an "irreparable loss."
"It is extremely saddening to hear about the demise of Shivanand Baba Ji, a yoga practitioner and resident of Kashi. His life dedicated to yoga and sadhana will continue to inspire every generation of the country. He was also awarded Padma Shri for serving the society through yoga.
"Shivanand Baba's departure to Shivaloka is an irreparable loss for all of us Kashi residents and millions of people who draw inspiration from him. I pay my tribute to him in this hour of grief," he said.
Born on August 8, 1896, in the Sylhet district of present-day Bangladesh, Baba Sivanand lost his parents to starvation when he was just six years old, they said.
Since then, he followed a life of austerity and discipline, eating only half a stomach of food, they said.
After his parents' demise, he was taken under the care of Omkarnand, who became his guardian and mentor. It was under his guidance that Baba Sivanand received spiritual education and life teachings.
Recognised for his contributions to yoga and spirituality, Baba Sivanand was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2022.
His disciples credited his longevity and robust health to his disciplined lifestyle. They said he would wake up at 3 am every day, practice yoga, and manage all his chores by himself.
He ate only boiled food and slept on a mat. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid his tributes to the yoga guru and prayed for his salvation.
"It is very sad that famous yoga guru of Kashi 'Padma Shri' Swami Shivanand ji, who made an unparalleled contribution in the field of 'Yoga', passed away. Humble tribute to him!" he wrote on X.
"Your sadhana and yoga-filled life is a great inspiration for the whole society. You dedicated your whole life to the expansion of yoga. I pray to Baba Vishwanath to grant salvation to the departed soul and give strength to his bereaved followers to bear this immense grief. Om Shanti!" he added.
योग साधक और काशी निवासी शिवानंद बाबा जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख हुआ है। योग और साधना को समर्पित उनका जीवन देश की हर पीढ़ी को प्रेरित करता रहेगा। योग के जरिए समाज की सेवा के लिए उन्हें पद्मश्री से सम्मानित भी किया गया था।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2025
शिवानंद बाबा का शिवलोक प्रयाण हम सब काशीवासियों और उनसे… pic.twitter.com/nm9fI3ySiK
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Nightclub fire: Goa court remands Luthra brothers in police custody for five days
Panaji (PTI): A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, in police custody for five days.
The brothers, brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 blaze that killed 25, were produced in the court after undergoing health check-ups twice at the District Hospital in North Goa.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Mapusa Puja Sardesai remanded the two brothers in police custody for five days.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing Bhavana Joshi who lost four family members in the tragedy, said that the accused were asking for “special consideration” claiming poor health.
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“We said they should not be given any extra relaxation,” he said, adding that the court has taken cognisance of the fact that this is about the death of “25 people in the form of mass genocide”.
“But since they kept pressing for medical check-up, the court ordered reexamination of their health. It is clear in the medical examination that they don’t require any consideration. The accused sought special considerations in the lock-up like a good mattress, which the court refused,” said Joshi.
A team of the Goa Police, along with the Luthra brothers, arrived at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa at 10.45 am.
The duo was initially taken to a Primary Health Centre at Siolim for medical examination. They were then taken to the District Hospital at Mapusa.
After their health assessment, the two were brought to the court.
The court directed that the accused be sent for fresh medical examination. Accordingly, the two were again taken to the District Hospital.
Later, they were produced before Judge Sardesai, who ordered the five-day police custody of the accused.
After the fire tragedy at Arpora village, the Anjuna police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The brothers were arrested in Delhi on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. A court there allowed the Goa Police their two-day transit remand.
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The duo had fled to Phuket in Thailand early on December 7, hours after the fire at their nightclub, prompting the authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice and cancel their passports.
They were detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11 following a request from the Indian government, which later coordinated with officials in Thailand to deport them under legal treaties between the two nations.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire.
