Ailing 111-year old Siddaganga Mutt senior seer shifted to

The ailing 111-year old pontiff of theSiddaganga Mutt Sivakumara Swamiji was Friday shifted in an air ambulance to Chennai from here for further treatment.

The seer, widely respected for his social service, particularly in the field of education, will be undergoing treatment at the Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre in Chennai, where he is also expected to undergo liver bypass, mutt officials said.

Theswamiji was brought to the HAL Airport here from the Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru district by road and shifted to Chennai using an air ambulance.

Earlier, he was admitted to the BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals here on December 1 and underwent certain procedures, including implant of stents in the common bile duct.

Subsequently he was discharged, but continued toremain on observation and medication.

Mutt authorities along with a team of expert surgeons from Chennai and Bengaluru decided to shift him to Chennaifor further surgical intervention after he seer fell ill.

Internationally renowned hepatobiliary (related to liver, gallbladder and bile ducts) surgeon Dr Mohamed Rela of the Rela Institute and Medical Centre will betreating the seer, his personal physician Dr Paramesh said.

Dr Rela had treated the swamiji two years ago.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the state government will bear all the expenses of the seer'smedical treatment.

"I have ordered that all the facilities beprovided at the government's expense, I have issued directionsto officials in this regard," he told reporters in Sringeri.

"I have asked the Chief Secretary to gather minute to minute information about seer's health and make necessary arrangements," he added.