Four Indian nationals, including a young woman, were tragically killed in a devastating multi-vehicle accident in Texas during the Labour Day weekend. Several others were injured in the incident, reports PTI.
The collision occurred on the northbound US 75 highway near White Street in Anna, close to Dallas, involving five vehicles. According to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, traffic had come to a halt when an SUV was struck from behind by a speeding truck. The impact ignited a fire that engulfed the SUV, resulting in the deaths of the four occupants.
The identities of the victims were confirmed by DC Manjunath, Consul General of India in Houston. He assured that the Consulate General of India is actively assisting the victims’ families and community organizations during this difficult time.
The victims were identified as Aryan Raghunath Orampatti from Kukatpally, Hyderabad, his friend Farooq Sheikh, Lokesh Palacharla, another Telugu student, and Darshini Vasudev from Tamil Nadu. Orampatti and Sheikh were returning from visiting a cousin in Dallas, while Palacharla was en route to Bentonville to reunite with his wife. Vasudev, a postgraduate from the University of Texas, was travelling to visit her uncle in Arkansas.
Identification was delayed due to the long weekend and the need for DNA analysis, as the bodies were severely charred.
Manjunath noted, “Darshini’s uncle Ramanujam lives in Bentonville, Arkansas. She was going to visit him. Darshini had just completed her Master’s and had started a job in Frisco, Dallas.” He also mentioned that Orampatti and Sheikh were recent graduates from the University of Texas at Dallas, with Sheikh having completed his MS in Business Analytics in Spring 2023 and Orampatti pursuing his MS in Finance, scheduled to graduate in Spring 2024. Lokesh Palacharla, who was driving the vehicle, was also a working professional.
The tragedy has deeply impacted the Indian diaspora, particularly the Telugu community, who are mourning the loss.