Senior journalist Padmakumar dead

Thiruvananthapuram: K Padmakumar, 54, assistant editor of The Hindu passed away here on Sunday morning. He was undergoing treatment for illness at a private hospital in the state capital. He is survived by wife C Indulekha (state public service commission) and daughter Varsha Nandini.

Padmakumar started his career with The Free Press Journal in Mumbai in 1988. He also worked with Business World Magazine in Mumbai from 1991 to 1994. He worked with the Indian Express in Coimbatore, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram later and joined The Hindu in 2000. Padmakumar was known for his trekking and mountaineering and was a frequent traveller to the Himalayas.

His body was kept at Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram where Shashi Tharoor, MP, C Divakaran, MLA and other leaders paid their last respects. The body was later cremated at Shantikavadom in the evening.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, ministers, MLAs and various political leaders condoled the death of Padmakumar.