Dr KR Viswambharan passes away

KOCHI: Oushadhi chairman and former Ernakulam District Collector Dr. KR Viswambharan (72) passed away on Friday. He was undergoing treatment at the Aluva Rajagiri Hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage. He died at 10 am yesterday while recovering from the surgery. He is a native of Mavelikkara. The funeral will take place at 11 am today at Pachalam cemetery.

After graduating from Bishop Moore College, Mavelikkara, he studied at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam and Govt. Law College. He started his career as an officer in Canara Bank. Later, he joined government service. He also served as Fort Kochi Tehsildar, Protocol Officer, Fort Kochi RDO, Alappuzha District Collector, Deputy Director of Higher Education and MD of Kerala Books and Publication Society.

He retired as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture. He practiced as a lawyer in Ernakulam for some time. As the chairman of the Maharaja's College Restoration Committee, he played an important role in preserving the antiquity of the College. He was also the president of Maharaja's College Old Students' Association. Viswambharan's life revolved around a wide circle of friends, including actor Mammootty, who was his classmate in law college.