Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette Three expatriates were killed and 28 others injured in a shell attack by Houthi rebels from across Yemen in Samta governorate in the southern Jazan province on Friday morning. Maj. Yahya Al-Qahtani, spokesman of the Civil Defense Directorate in Jazan, said the attack took place on a residential compound of workers near Samta General Hospital (SGH), situated 70 km from Jazan city, at around 7.15 a.m. The Civil Defense teams rushed to the scene and carried out rescue operations. He said that all the injured, including four Saudis and 24 expatriates, have been admitted to various hospitals in the region. According to sources, the dead included one Indian and two Bangladeshis. They are Panayappilli Farouq (India), Noorul Haque and Bathan (Bangladesh). The sources said that the seriously injured Bangladeshi national, Dilwar, later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. M. Thaha, branch manager of operations at Jazan's Adnan Maritime Company, told Saudi Gazette that the injured expatriates include three Indians. They are Sunny Othara from Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, Muhammad Sadique from Bihar and Shahnas from New Delhi. Local residents said that at least four shells struck the compound where the medical staff and workers of SGH reside. Some of the injured have been admitted to SGH while others were taken to Jazan General Hospital and King Fahd Specialty Hospital in Abu Areesh. Farouq, who hailed from Ernakulam district of Kerala, had been in Jazan for 25 years, and is survived by his wife Nadeera and five daughters who are living in Samta. Working as an A/C technician, Farouq was an active member of the Jazan Community Welfare Committee (JCWC), which is associated with the Indian Consulate. He was also a member of Jazan Art Lovers Association. Dr. Mubarak Sani, Dr. Chandrasekharan, Taha and other members of JCWC and the Indian community have mourned the death of Farouq.
