P A Hameed Padubidri, Riyadh/Dammam
Daijiworld Media Network - Dammam
Dammam, Jan 24: Abdullah Zainuddin Panambur, popularly known as Zainuddin Katipalla, aged about 59, passed away on Monday January 23 morning at around 5 am in Dammam Hospital due to a severe cardiac arrest. He originally hailed from Panambur-Katipalla in Mangalore. He had been working for 28 years at Al-Mutlaq Furniture Company Dammam, the eastern province city of Saudi Arabia.
It has been informed that he was very well and there was no symptom of any ill-health till morning; he was very cheerful with his friends and colleagues last night in his campsite. He suddenly experienced a heavy breathing problem at midnight and was immediately taken to Dammam Al-Mouwasath Hospital for treatment. The doctors rushed to treat him, but he breathed his last in the hospital. The deceased had planned to return to India soon for good.
The body is kept in the Hospital awaiting legal and other formalities. He is expected to be buried in Dammam cemetery.
He resumed his duty last Saturday after spending 45 days of his annual holidays in Saudi Arabia with his entire family. His wife arrived in Saudi Arabia recently and was staying with their sons in Riyadh when he passed away. Upon hearing the death news, she and the children rushed to the hospital, where hundreds of his friends, colleagues and well-wishers gathered to pay their last respects.
Zainuddin Katipalla was gifted with versatile talents and was popular amongst the Mangaloreans in and around Dammam-Khobar and other parts of the Kingdom. He won the hearts of many people with his melodious and tuneful songs especially Beary Paatts (songs). He sang various Beary songs including spiritual and classical ones. He was an active member of KAMYA (Katipalla Muslims Association, Dammam-Khobar).
He is survived by his wife, two sons and daughters. He was very friendly, quiet and hard-working man, said his friends.
Many of his well-wishers and others have expressed their deepest commiseration over the sad demise of a well-known figure.