Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, died on Wednesday just days after he was hospitalised due to a brain stroke. He was 85.
The news of the chief priest's death during treatment at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) hospital in Lucknow was confirmed by his disciple Pradeep Das.
According to Pradeep Das, the elderly priest's cremation will take place by the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya on Thursday and his body was currently being taken to the holy city from Lucknow.
Acharya Satyendra Das was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after suffering a brain stroke. In a statement earlier today, authorities at SGPGI announced that he remained critical.
The priest was also suffering from diabetes and hypertension, according to the statement.
In his condolence message, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the elderly priest's death was "an irreparable loss".
Last month, Acharya Satyendra Das, who was the longest-serving chief priest of the Ram temple, participated in the first anniversary celebrations of the Pran Pratistha ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol.
He described the celebrations as "very beautiful"
Source: ANI