Who was Issac Paul Olakkengil, the Indian engineer who died in scuba diving incident in Dubai
Issac Paul Olakkengil was a skilled civil engineer specializing in Building Information Modelling, working in the UAE since 2019
Issac Paul Olakkengil, a 29-year-old civil engineer from Kerala, India, died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a scuba diving training session at Dubai's Jumeirah Beach on Friday, June 6.
The tragic incident unfolded while Issac was on vacation with his wife and younger brother, partaking in the Eid Al Adha holidays. The news of his untimely death has sent shockwaves through the Indian expatriate community in the UAE, where Issac had built a thriving professional life.
A life built on precision, passion, and progress
Issac hailed from Naduvilangadi in Thrissur, Kerala. A driven and accomplished engineer, he specialized in Building Information Modelling (BIM), a sophisticated digital process essential in modern construction.
After completing a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Calicut University in 2016, he steadily climbed the professional ladder. He first gained experience in India, including a stint with Indian Railways, before moving to the UAE in 2019. There, he worked with prominent firms such as Omnix International, Aspen Creations, and most recently as a BIM Coordinator at PNC Architects in Dubai, a role he held since May 2022.
Issac's expertise spanned tools like Revit Architecture, Navisworks, AutoCAD, and Enscape, and he was certified in BIM Technology and BIM Coordination. He was fluent in English, Hindi, and Malayalam, and his colleagues and peers admired his methodical nature and professional diligence.
A family of engineers, bound by love and shared ambitions
Engineering ran in the family. Issac's wife, Reshma Olakkengil, is also an engineer based in Dubai. His younger brother, Ivin Olakkengil, lives and works as an engineer in Abu Dhabi.
The three shared a close bond, not only familial but also intellectual and professional.
All three were part of the same scuba diving training session at Jumeirah Beach when the incident occurred.
According to David Pyarilos, Issac's uncle, who is currently supporting the family with legal procedures and the repatriation of the body to India, 'It seems they were getting trained for scuba diving, and apparently, he [Issac] couldn't breathe properly and moved away from the pack.'
'So, everyone panicked and was impacted underwater. I was told Reshma was rescued to the shore first, followed by the other two,' Mr Pyarilos told the press.
Issac was rushed to the hospital, but despite resuscitation efforts, he could not be saved. His brother Ivin collapsed upon reaching the hospital, overwhelmed by the event. He was placed under observation and later declared out of danger. Mr Pyarilos added, 'Ivin's friends just told me they are concerned about breaking this heart-wrenching news to him, as the brothers shared a strong bond.'
According to Khaleej Times, Ivin was only informed of his brother's death on Saturday, June 7.
An ongoing investigation
Dubai police have since launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities have seized the scuba diving equipment used during the session for analysis, as part of standard safety and procedural checks. The training was conducted in a designated diving area at Jumeirah Beach, popular among beginners and tourists.
The family is now focused on completing the necessary legal formalities for the repatriation of Issac's body to India, a process being handled with the assistance of Mr Pyarilos.
The UAE's Indian community, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has expressed condolences, remembering Issac as a hardworking, soft-spoken professional who had earned respect in his field and among his peers. While the incident has been reported widely, it is the story of the man behind the headlines, a committed husband, brother, and engineer, that resonates most.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
10 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Chennai-based Lalithaa Jewellery Mart files DRHP for Rs 1,700 crore IPO to fuel southern expansion
Lalithaa Jewellery Mart, a Chennai-headquartered jewellery retailer offering gold, silver, and diamond jewellery designed for southern Indian markets, has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise Rs 1,700 crore through an initial public offering (IPO). ADVERTISEMENT The proposed Rs 1,700 crore IPO comprises a fresh issue of up to Rs 1,200 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of Rs 500 crore by promoter M. Kiran Kumar Jain. The company also plans a reservation for eligible employees with a bidding discount and may undertake a pre-IPO placement of up to 20% of the fresh issue size, which would proportionally reduce the fresh issue. Proceeds from the fresh issue will be primarily deployed towards capital expenditure for setting up new stores in India, amounting to Rs 1,014.50 crore, with the balance allocated for general corporate purposes, the company said in its filing. The issue will follow the book-building process, allocating no more than 50% of the net offer to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), and reserving at least 15% and 35% for non-institutional investors and retail individual investors, respectively. The company proposes to list its shares on the National Stock Exchange of India and BSE Ltd. Founded in 1985, Lalithaa Jewellery Mart opened its first store in Chennai's T. Nagar, a hub for silk and jewellery retail. The company operates 56 stores across southern India's Tier I, II, and III cities, including 22 in Andhra Pradesh, 20 in Tamil Nadu, seven in Karnataka, six in Telangana, and one in Puducherry, spanning a total operational area of 6,09,408 sq. ft. As of December 31, 2024, 47 of these stores each cover more than 5,000 sq. ft. According to a CRISIL report cited in the DRHP, Lalithaa Jewellery Mart recorded the highest operating revenue per store among key organised jewellery players in India between fiscal years 2022 and 2024. It is also ranked the second fastest growing regional jewellery player based on operating revenue growth during the same period, posting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43.62%. ADVERTISEMENT The company's jewellery schemes, 'Dhana Vandhanam' and 'Free-yo-Flexi,' have attracted repeat customers, with 420,261 active enrolments as of December 31, 2024. Lalithaa Jewellery Mart runs two manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu, one at Thirumudivakkam, Chennai, and another at Maraimalai, Kanchipuram, the latter through its wholly owned subsidiary Asita Manufacturing Private Limited. From December 2024, operations commenced at the Thirumudivakkam facility. The company employs a total of 563 Karigars across both manufacturing units. ADVERTISEMENT The company also operates one of India's largest jewellery stores in Vijayawada, with a carpet area of 1,00,000 sq. ft., alongside large-format stores in Somajiguda (98,210 sq. ft.) and Vishakhapatnam (65,000 sq. ft.), making them among the largest jewellery retail outlets in the country, according to Lalithaa Jewellery Mart reported a 26.07% increase in restated consolidated revenue from Rs 13,316.80 crore in fiscal 2023 to Rs 16,788.05 crore in fiscal 2024, driven by the rise in store count from 47 to 53, higher gold rates, and increased gold sales. For the nine months ended December 31, 2024, the company posted revenue of Rs 12,594.67 crore and profit after tax of Rs 262.33 crore. ADVERTISEMENT The Indian gems and jewellery retail industry was valued at Rs 6.49 trillion in fiscal 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13–14% to reach Rs 12–12.2 trillion by fiscal 2029. South India remains the largest jewellery-consuming region, accounting for 38–43% of the country's overall jewellery Rathi Advisors and Equirus Capital are the book-running lead managers for the issue, while MUFG Intime India serves as registrar. ADVERTISEMENT Also read | IPO calendar: 4 new issues, 1 listing lined up in a busy mid-June week (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Mint
18 minutes ago
- Mint
China's rare earth export curbs are India's wake-up call
The US-China trade war has opened a fresh front, now impacting Indian industry in a big way. China's curbs on exports of rare earth magnets—processed from rare earth elements (REEs)—have disrupted supply chains, particularly in the country's automobile sector. The development also underscores why India must urgently reduce its dependence on China by ramping up domestic exploration and refining of its own rare earth reserves. In April, Beijing imposed export restrictions on seven REEs in retaliation for US tariff hikes. Importers were forced to navigate a complex licensing system, triggering delays and shortages worldwide. Indian firms have faced stiffer restrictions than many others, Mint reported last week. China dominates the global rare earths industry, mining 46% of REEs and refining 74% as of 2024, according to the International Energy Agency. These 17 metals are essential for everything from electric vehicles and fighter jets to smartphones and MRI scanners. Given the high costs of extraction, China has built a commanding lead in the sector over decades. India, despite having the world's third-largest rare earth reserves—estimated at 6.9 million metric tonnes—mines only a small portion. The country has remained heavily import-dependent, with China as the primary supplier. India's position This isn't the first time China has used REEs as a geopolitical lever. In 2010, it briefly cut off exports to Japan during a territorial standoff. The latest curbs serve as a timely reminder for India to move faster in securing its access to these critical materials. Some steps have been taken. Under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), launched in January 2025 with a ₹16,300 crore outlay over seven years, REEs have been identified as one of 30 critical minerals. Their production and import have been made a national priority. In March, for the first time, the REE sector was opened to private investment. A Reuters report noted that the government plans to introduce fiscal incentives for domestic production in response to the current disruption. But more must be done. A 2020 Exim Bank working paper identified key gaps. Chief among them is India's limited refining and processing capacity, which has long hamstrung efforts to tap domestic reserves. Greater investment in R&D is also needed to develop alternatives for critical minerals, the report said. India must also look outward—by enabling joint mining ventures and helping Indian firms acquire assets abroad. This strategy has been adopted by countries like the US and Japan. As the global push to reduce Chinese dominance in the sector gathers pace, India could emerge as a viable alternative supplier—though the transition will take time. China's own dominance took nearly two decades to build after it began prioritizing REE development in the 1980s. What next? Demand for rare earths is set to soar as the global economy pivots toward decarbonization and electrification. According to the IEA's Critical Minerals Outlook 2025, demand stood at 91 kilotonnes in 2024 and could nearly double to 178 kilotonnes by 2050. Clean energy will be the main driver, with REE demand from this segment expected to rise from 20% today to over 33% by 2050. 'Growing demand for permanent magnets, particularly from EVs and wind power, boosts the need for magnet rare earths," the IEA report noted. Read this | EV industry, government struggle to find alternatives as China throttles rare earth magnet supply While demand is set to rise sharply, the biggest vulnerability remains China's dominance—and its willingness to weaponize supply chains. Australia is expected to emerge as a key supplier over the next decade. Meanwhile, India and Central Asian nations—including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—have expressed interest in joint exploration of rare earths and other critical minerals. Such efforts may not yield immediate results, but could gradually chip away at China's grip over the global supply.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
25 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Reliance and Shein aim to sell India-made clothes abroad within a year
Fashion retailer Shein and partner Reliance Retail plan to rapidly expand their Indian supplier base and start overseas sales of India-made Shein-branded clothes within six to 12 months, said two people with knowledge of the matter. The China-founded, Singapore-headquartered e-commerce firm has been discussing plans with the Indian retailer since before the US imposed tariffs on Chinese imports that intensified the need to diversify sourcing, the people said. The aim is to raise Indian suppliers to 1,000 from 150 within a year, they said. In a statement to Reuters, Shein said it licensed its brand for use in India. Reliance did not respond to queries. Shein sells low-priced apparel such as $5 dresses and $10 jeans shipped directly from 7,000 suppliers in China to customers in around 150 countries. Its biggest market is the US where it is adjusting to tariffs on low-value e-commerce packages from China which were previously imported duty free. The retailer launched in India in 2018 but its app was banned in 2020 as part of government action against China-linked firms amid border tension with its northeastern neighbour. It returned in February under a licensing deal with the Reliance Industries unit which launched selling Shein-branded clothes produced in local factories. In contrast, Shein's other websites mainly list goods from China. Reliance, controlled by Asia's richest person, Mukesh Ambani, has contracted 150 garment manufacturers and is in discussion with 400 more, said the two people, declining to be identified due to confidentiality concerns. The goal is 1,000 Indian factories making Shein-branded clothes within a year for both the Indian market and to service some of Shein's global websites, the people said. Shein initially wants to list India-made clothes on its US and British websites, one of the people said. Discussions have been ongoing for months and the launch time of six to 12 months could change depending on supplier numbers, the person said. The scale of supplier expansion and export time frame is reported here for the first time. Shein has licensed its brand for domestic use to Reliance which "is responsible for manufacturing, supply chain, sales and operations in the Indian market," Shein said in a statement. In December, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal told parliament that the Shein-Reliance partnership aimed to create a network of Indian suppliers of Shein-branded clothes for sale "domestically and globally". On-demand manufacturing Shein is a fast-fashion behemoth earning annual revenue of over $30 billion through low prices and aggressive marketing. Most of its products are from China with some made in countries such as Turkey and Brazil. Its expansion in India mirrors interest in the country from the likes of Walmart and others throughout the global fashion and retail industries, particularly those looking for suppliers outside China due to the Sino-US trade war. The Shein India app has been downloaded 2.7 million times across Apple and Google Play stores, averaging 120% on-month growth, showed data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. Offerings during its first four months have reached 12,000 designs, a fraction of the 600,000 products on its US site. In the women's dresses category, its cheapest item is priced 349 Indian rupees ($4) versus $3.39 on the US site as of June 9. Shein's Indian partner Reliance, which operates the app, is working with suppliers to assess whether they can replicate Shein's global best-sellers at lower cost, the two people said. Reliance aims to emulate Shein's on-demand manufacturing model, asking suppliers to make as few as 100 pieces per design before increasing production of those that sell well, they said. Executives from Reliance recently visited China to understand Shein's "innovative" supply chain operations, "data driven" design processes and "disruptive" digital marketing, Manish Aziz, assistant vice president Shein India at Reliance Retail, said in a LinkedIn post in which he called Shein's scale and speed "truly incredible". The partnership is one of dozens Reliance has with fashion brands, such as Brooks Brothers and Marks and Spencer. The firm also runs e-commerce site Ajio and its retail network competes with Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart as well as value retailers such as Tata's Zudio. Reliance plans to work with new suppliers to source fabric - especially fabric made using synthetic fibres where India lacks expertise - and import required machinery, the people said. The firm will invest in suppliers and help them grow which in turn will help the Shein-Reliance partnership go global, they said.
