Indian dad dies at RAK airport hours before flight back home

An Indian father who was on his way home to Kerala to congratulate his son for clearing Grade 10 with flying colours collapsed and died at the Ras Al Khaimah airport on Tuesday, Khaleej Times has learnt.
Pavithran Manchakkal, 50, a goldsmith from Kozhikode, was laid to rest at a cemetery in Ras Al Khaimah, a social worker confirmed. He is survived by wife Sumithra, two daughters Dhanusha and Dhamanya, and son Dhanoop.
"He was overjoyed that his son scored A plus in all subjects in the Kerala board results released on Tuesday. He was sad that he could not afford to gift the boy a mobile phone. The fact that he died even before reaching home is a tragedy beyond words," said Shaji Kayakodi, a member of the community organisation Chethana RAK.
"He had lost his job three months ago and we at Chethana were trying to repatriate him. He got his passport renewed a week ago and we helped him with the ticket money to fly home," said Kayakodi.
According to him, the chartered flight from Ras Al Khaimah was supposed to take off at 11.30pm on Tuesday and Manchakkal reached the airport at 6.30pm.
"He had called me after reaching the airport and I even waited at the parking lot to say good bye to him. I came back because he did not pick up my calls. It was only at night that I heard he had died at the airport before boarding the flight," said Kayakodi. "I spoke with his neighbours and friends back home. They said his wife had borrowed money to receive him from the airport and she is inconsolable," said Manchakkal.
Healthcare group offers support to family
A UAE-based healthcare group has come forward to support the family of Pavithran Manchakkal, who died at the Ras Al Khaimah airport.
VPS Healthcare chairman and managing director Dr Shamsheer Vayalil said the group will sponsor the education of Pavithran's son, who excelled in the Kerala board examination.
VPS Healthcare (India) director Hafiz Ali Ullat, who is in touch with the family in Kerala, said they were deeply disturbed to learn about Pavithran's tragic death. "It is a heart-wrenching story. We have therefore decided to support the family of Pavithran by taking over the educational expenses of Dhanoop.
"He is the hope of the family and is good at studies. By supporting him, we believe it would be a relief for the family. We also extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family," said Ullat.
As an immediate relief, VPS Healthcare will be handing over an amount of Rs500,000 (Dh24,320) to the family members, said the company management.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com 

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• India

Anjana Sankar

anjana@khaleejtimes.com