Quick Bytes
- Recent fatalities among Indian and Indian American students in the US raise safety concerns.
- Harsh weather conditions and suicide appear to be factors in some of the deaths.
- Incidents include brutal murder, hypothermia, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Tragic Losses in the Student Community
A series of tragic deaths have shaken the Indian and Indian American student communities in the United States. Recent weeks have seen the loss of several young lives, with no clear pattern linking the incidents, but harsh weather conditions and suicide have been contributing factors in some cases.
Unfortunate String of Events
Among the deceased is Sameer Kamath, a doctoral student at Purdue University, who died by suicide. Shreyas Reddy Benigeri, a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati, was also found dead, with no foul play suspected. The deaths of Neel Acharya and Vivek Saini, both from Purdue University, were reported within a week of each other. Saini’s death was particularly violent, as he was murdered by a homeless individual he had previously helped.
Weather-Related Deaths
Extreme cold weather has been implicated in several deaths, including that of Akul Dhawan, whose body was found on the University of Illinois campus after a night of sub-zero temperatures. Similarly, Gattu Dinesh and R Nikesh, computer science students at Sacred Heart University, succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from a room heater during cold conditions.
Community Impact and Response
The string of fatalities has not only caused grief across continents but also raised questions about campus safety and the well-being of international students. The Indian government has reported 403 deaths of Indian students abroad since 2018, with various causes ranging from natural to accidental.
For more detailed information, readers can access the full story on the Times of India.
