KOLLAM: Prominent industrialist George Joseph Fernandez(94) passed away in a private hospital in Hyderabad on Sunday morning. He had been suffering from respiratory distress and pneumonia.

His body will be buried in his native family grave at Kureepuzha in Kollam district.

Born in 1926, Fernandes had joined the British Indian Army at the age of 17 and served the army till 1947. After leaving the army, he joined the Tungabhadra Dam project at Muneerabad. Later, he went on to start his first business as a building material supplier. As his business flourished, he became involved in the construction of major dams and irrigation projects such as Tungabhadra, Upper Krishna, Kinnersani, Kothagudam, Karanja and Donkarayi. He had won National Award for Outstanding Export Performance for the year 1969-70.

He is survived by his wife Celine, his six children – sons George, Cedric and Alfred and daughters Alphonsa, Antoinette and Susan and grandchildren.