JEDDAH – The Keralite community in Jeddah and Makkah mourned the death of well-known social worker K.V.A. Ghafour who died on Tuesday evening following a massive heart attack. He was 50. Funeral prayer for Ghafour was offered at the Grand Mosque in Makkah after Asr prayers on Wednesday. Thousands of Indian community members attended the Janaza prayer and burial at Al-Moallah cemetery in Makkah.
Ghafour was the secretary of the Saudi national committee of Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC). He also served KMCC in various capacities, including secretary of the Jeddah Central Committee. He was instrumental in forming a number of social and humanitarian forums in the city. Ghafour, who had been in the Kingdom for 30 years, was an employee at Honda Motor Co.
Several Keralite organizations, including KMCC, Overseas Indian Cultural Congress, and Navodaya voiced deep sorrow over the unexpected demise of Ghafour. “The death of Ghafour is an irreparable loss to the Indian community in Jeddah as he was a dedicated and selfless worker who devoted his full life to social and humanitarian services,” said K.P.
Mohammedkutty, president of the Saudi national committee of KMCC, the largest Indian expatriate organization in the Gulf.
Ghafour is survived by wife Aminakutty, son Afeef and daughters Faseela and Mufeeda.
