Four Indian nationals, including a woman, lost their lives in a devastating multi-car crash in Texas that resulted in their SUV catching fire. The victims were carpooling to Bentonville, Arkansas, when a speeding truck rear-ended their vehicle, leading to the fatal blaze.
The deceased have been identified as Aryan Raghunath Orampati, Farooq Shaik, Lokesh Palacharla, and Dharshini Vasudevan. The tragic accident occurred on Friday as the victims were en route to Bentonville. Authorities are currently relying on DNA testing to confirm their identities due to the severe damage and charring of the remains.
The victims had connected through a carpooling app and were traveling together when the accident occurred. Orampati and Shaik were returning from a visit to Orampati’s cousin in Dallas. Palacharla was traveling to Bentonville to meet his wife, while Vasudevan, who had recently completed her Master’s degree at the University of Texas and had been working in the US, was heading to visit her uncle in Bentonville.
The collision happened when a speeding truck rear-ended the SUV, causing it to burst into flames. All occupants of the vehicle perished in the fire. Authorities are using DNA fingerprinting and bone remains to identify the victims and confirm their identities.
Family Reactions and Efforts
Darshini Vasudevan’s father had sought help from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar via Twitter, expressing his concern after losing contact with his daughter and the other passengers. His message described her last known details and location, emphasizing the family’s desperate need for assistance.
Orampati’s father, Subhash Chandra Reddy, who runs Max Agri Genetics Private Limited in Hyderabad, noted that Aryan had recently graduated from the University of Texas and had planned to work in the US for two more years despite his parents’ wishes for him to return to India. The tragedy has deeply impacted his family.
Farooq Shaik’s father, Masthan Vali, shared that his son had recently completed his MS degree and had been living in Bentonville. The Vali family is now dealing with the aftermath of this sudden loss, with Shaik’s sister also residing in the US to handle the situation.
Ongoing Investigation
Local authorities are working to identify the victims through forensic methods, including matching DNA samples with those of the victims’ families. The tragic incident has highlighted the dangers associated with reckless driving and the impact of such accidents on families far from home.
The community and families are mourning the loss of these young lives, and the incident has drawn attention to the need for stricter enforcement of traffic safety regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Sources By Agencies
