By Ashraf Padanna/Thiruvananthapuram

An Indian who received near fatal injuries in Houthi shell attacks in Yemen has undergone successful surgery back home.
Three other Indian friends of Sunny Thomas Varghese were killed in the attack.
Sharp metal pieces pierced into his back, very close to the spinal cord, damaging vital nerves. There was a deep wound on his back as if created by a heavy-duty drill. He was paralysed below hip.
Doctors at Indo-American Hospital, Vaikom, in Kerala, said the victim had now recovered fully after a major surgery.
The 48-year-old was admitted to a private hospital in Saudi Arabia. However, doctors were reluctant to operate on him to remove the metal pieces, as it could lead to other severe complications.
The helplessness of the medical experts pushed him to a hopeless condition as he was bedridden and needed help to perform routine activities.
He was taken to the Kerala hospital in a last attempt to bring him back to normal life, doctors who prescribed a microscopic surgery on him said.
The seven-hour surgery pulled out the metal pieces from the deep wound and repaired the damage to the spinal cord and nerves.
As the metal piece was taken out, the body responded to medicines. After expert treatment and physiotherapy, paralysis of his legs is almost cured and now he can walk without anybody’s help.
Varghese was working as an electric contractor in Jizan. He was discharged yesterday and he is planning to go back to the kingdom soon.