Harika's grieving family, including her father, Jetty Srinivasa Rao, an employee in the tax department, and her mother, Nagamani, are now awaiting the repatriation of her body through the Indian Embassy.
The family has made a public appeal to the government to expedite the process, enabling them to perform her last rites in their hometown of Tenali.
"We are completely heartbroken by this sudden loss," a close relative stated. "Our priority right now is to get Harika home and perform the final rites. We request the government’s support and cooperation in this difficult time."
This tragic incident is part of a troubling trend, with an increasing number of Indian-origin students facing fatal accidents in the US. Recently, another Indian student died in a bike accident in New York, and three Indian students lost their lives in a car accident in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Jetty Harika’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the Indian and Telugu communities, both in the US and India. Her family’s plea for urgent assistance highlights the need for streamlined processes in repatriating the bodies of Indian nationals.
The community hopes for swift action from the authorities, underscoring the importance of governmental support in such critical situations.