On Friday, four Indian nationals were killed in a tragic multi-car crash in Texas. The victims were involved in a carpooling arrangement and were traveling to Bentonville, Arkansas, when their SUV was struck by a speeding truck. The collision caused the SUV to burst into flames, resulting in all occupants being burned to death.
The victims have been identified as Aryan Raghunath Orampati, Farooq Shaik, Lokesh Palacharla, and Dharshini Vasudevan. Orampati and Shaik were returning from a visit to Orampati’s cousin in Dallas. Palacharla was en route to meet his wife, and Vasudevan was headed to visit her uncle in Bentonville after completing her Master’s degree in the US.
Dharshini Vasudevan’s father had previously sought help from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar via Twitter, reporting her disappearance after losing contact during the carpool journey.
The crash involved five vehicles and has been described as one of the deadliest in recent times. Authorities are relying on DNA testing and other forensic methods to confirm the identities of the victims, as the intense fire rendered traditional identification methods impossible.
Farooq Shaik’s father, Masthan Vali, shared that his son had moved to the US three years ago to complete his MS degree, which he had recently finished. The families of the victims are grappling with the delay in identification due to a long weekend in the US, prolonging their distress.
Orampati, who completed his engineering degree at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, had chosen to remain in the US for two additional years despite his parents’ request for him to return home. His friend Shaik was also from Hyderabad and had settled in Bentonville.
The SUV’s occupants were all charred beyond recognition. Investigators are using DNA fingerprinting and analysis of teeth and bone remains to identify the bodies. The crash has highlighted the risks associated with carpooling and the need for enhanced road safety measures.
The incident underscores the severe impact of road accidents and the importance of immediate and effective emergency response systems.