Hamid Ansari condoles biologist Obaid Siddiqi's death

Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari condoled the demise of eminent biologist Obaid Siddiqi, who died in Bangalore yesterday due to brain injuries sustained in a road accident on July 21.

"I am deeply saddened at the untimely and tragic demise of Professor Obaid Siddiqi, National Research Professor at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, one of the most eminent scientists of our country and an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University," Ansari said in his condolence message.

He said Prof. Siddiqi was an outstanding teacher who taught in some of the most prestigious universities, in India and abroad, and inspired generations of students to pursue excellence.

"In his departure, we have lost a pioneer of scientific research and an institution builder whose absence will be felt for a long time to come," Ansari added.

Professor Siddiqi, a National Research Professor at the National Centre for Biological Sciences here, was taking a stroll near his residence in Vidyaranyapura on Wednesday when his neighbour, a college student, riding his moped, knocked him down.

Siddiqi was rushed to the Baptist Hospital, where he died of his injuries. He is survived by his wife Asiya, sons Imran and Kaleem, and daughters Yumna and Diba.