Two Hyderabadis among four Indians killed in Texas crash
HYDERABAD: Four Indian nationals, including two from Hyderabad, tragically lost their lives in a multi-vehicle crash on U.S. 75 in Anna, Texas, on Friday afternoon, August 30.
The Collin County Sheriff’s Office reported that the collision took place just beyond White Street at approximately 3:30 p.m. The accident, involving around five vehicles, was initiated when a truck traveling at high speed failed to slow down and rear-ended the SUV carrying the victims.
The collision was so forceful that the SUV caught fire, trapping all four passengers inside and preventing their escape. The severity of the blaze rendered the bodies unidentifiable, complicating the identification process.
The deceased are Aryan Raghunath Orampati from Hyderabad, his friend Farooq Shaik from Hyderabad BHEL, Lokesh Palacharla, and Darshini Vasudevan from Tamil Nadu.
According to the reports, the victims used a carpooling app for their journey to Bentonville when the crash occurred. Aryan Raghunath, who resided in Bentonville, was returning home after visiting his cousin in Dallas. Lokesh Palacharla was traveling to Bentonville to visit his wife. Darshini Vasudevan, a Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, was heading to see her uncle in Bentonville.
Aryan’s father, Subhash Chandra Reddy, runs a Max Agri Genetic Private Limited in Kukatpally, Hyderabad. Initially, the family from Rayachoti had settled in Nizampet, Hyderabad. Aryan, who completed his engineering degree at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Coimbatore, had recently had his parents visit the U.S. for his convocation at the University of Texas Dallas. Although they asked him to return to India, Aryan had planned to work in the U.S. for another two years before coming back. “Fate has dealt us this blow,” said Aryan’s relative.
One of X users, Sai Teja, said, “I am shocked by this news. Aryan was my mother’s student. We pray that the Almighty gives his family the strength to endure this difficult time. My mother taught him from 6th to 10th grade. Aryan was also a classmate of my brother. Upon hearing this news, she was in shock.”
Farooq, a resident of Bentonville, and Darshini, who lived in Frisco, Texas, were also affected. Farooq, originally from Hyderabad BHEL, had been in the U.S. for three years pursuing his MS studies and had recently completed them. He had graduated with an engineering degree from Vasavi College. Farooq’s father, Vali, a retired private employee, resides in Hyderabad’s BHEL area. The family, originally from Guntur district, now lives in Hyderabad. Vali’s daughter, who is also in the U.S., is currently managing the situation.
Local authorities are utilising DNA fingerprinting and analysis of dental and bone fragments to confirm the victims’ identities. “DNA fingerprinting will be employed to identify the bodies, and the samples will be cross-checked with those of the victim’s parents,” said officials. The long holiday weekend in the U.S. has delayed the identification process, adding to the distress of the affected families.
Four Indians, Including Two from Hyderabad, Killed in Fiery Multi-Vehicle Crash in Texas; DNA Fingerprinting to Identify Charred Bodies
A tragic multi-vehicle crash on U.S. 75 in Anna, Texas, claimed the lives of four Indian nationals, including two from Hyderabad, on Friday… pic.twitter.com/lKHQdxkoXS
— Sudhakar Udumula (@sudhakarudumula) September 4, 2024
