IIT Madras Alumnus Suffers Fatal Heart Attack in UAE Hours After Family Farewell

Despite medical intervention efforts, Sudevan was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Hariraj Sudevan, a 37-year-old Indian expatriate, suffered a fatal heart attack in the UAE shortly after bidding farewell to his family at Abu Dhabi International Airport. According to Gulf News reports, the incident occurred around 11:40 pm on Sunday, October 5, while he was attending a birthday celebration at a friend's residence. Emergency responders were unable to revive him despite immediate medical attention.

His wife Dr. Anu Ashok and son Ishaan Dev Hari had just concluded a 10-day visit with him before returning to Kerala that evening. The family maintained a routine of reuniting every six months, with Sudevan frequently traveling to Kerala for significant occasions, particularly his son's birthdays. He had already made arrangements to visit later this month for Ishaan's upcoming 10th birthday celebration on October 27. Ashokan KP, his father-in-law, mentioned that Sudevan was eagerly anticipating the event.

"Our entire family is devastated and struggling to accept the reality of his sudden passing," Ashokan told Gulf News.

An alumnus of the prestigious IIT Madras, Sudevan had established a 12-year career in the UAE as a senior offshore construction engineer. His educational background included a B.Tech from CUSAT followed by an MTech from IIT Madras.

Regarding the circumstances of his death, Hariraj Sudevan had dropped his family at Abu Dhabi International Airport before visiting his friend Digin Thomas' residence to participate in Thomas' daughter's birthday celebration.

"After returning from the airport, he came to my apartment where we enjoyed some quality time together. We had a cake-cutting ceremony where he presented gifts to my daughter and interacted with my children. All my children share a close bond with him," Digin Thomas recounted.

At approximately 11:40 pm, Hariraj began experiencing discomfort, reporting breathing difficulties and perspiration. His roommate Sujith promptly informed Thomas and another friend, who immediately called for emergency services. Despite paramedics administering CPR and rushing him to the hospital, medical professionals were unable to save his life.

"The medical team attempted resuscitation for nearly thirty minutes but couldn't revive him," Thomas explained.

Although Sudevan managed his diabetes through dietary measures and yoga practice and was an enthusiastic badminton player, he had recently expressed concerns about abnormalities in his ECG results from a standard offshore medical examination.

"He sought medical advice and underwent additional testing, which showed no significant issues. He had been experiencing heartburn primarily after meals, which he attributed to gastric problems," Thomas added.

His funeral service was conducted on Tuesday in his hometown in Kerala's Alappuzha district.