Prasanna Atluri was on her way to the temple when the fatal accident took place. She was looking for job opportunities in the US after graduating. Photo: gofundme.com
Indian student from Andhra killed in NY car crash; parents emptied life savings for US dream
While a just graduated Indian student from AP was killed by a speeding driver in a horrific New York crash, a Telangana student was found dead in his London apartment
A 25-year-old Indian student, Prasanna Atluri, was tragically killed in a violent car crash in New York just days after graduating from university. The incident has left her family devastated and seeking community support to bring her body back home to India.
The accident took place on July 5 while Prasanna and three companions were travelling to a local temple. Their vehicle was stopped at a red traffic signal in New York when a speeding car rammed into them with force from behind.
The immense force of the impact killed Prasanna and another passenger on the spot. The remaining two occupants of the car sustained grave injuries and remain hospitalized.
Prasanna had recently graduated from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business and was actively seeking employment opportunities in the United States at the time of the tragedy.
Family left shattered
Hailing from Mulapadu in the Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh, Prasanna was described as the emotional and financial backbone of her household.
According to a report in The Times of India, Prasanna came from a very humble background in Malleswari village. Her father, Atluri Vasantha Rao, works as a farmer, while her mother manages a small bag manufacturing unit to help support the household.
Highly ambitious, Prasanna had already completed her Chartered Accountancy (CA) studies in India before setting her sights on global opportunities. Recognising her immense potential, her parents completely exhausted their life savings to finance her higher education at Pace University in New York, hoping to secure a prosperous future for her and the family.
Crowdfunding repatriation
Her cousin, Ravi Kumar Atluri, shared a deeply moving tribute about her selflessness while managing her own student debts:
"Prasanna was the pillar of her family and the person everyone relied on for guidance, emotional support, and financial stability. Even while managing her own student loans, she never hesitated to help others. She lifted people quietly and consistently, with a heart full of love."
Faced with sudden, overwhelming expenses and the complex process of international repatriation, Prasanna’s family has launched an online crowdfunding appeal. The funds will be utilised to cover emergency costs and transport her body back to her hometown in Andhra Pradesh for her final rites.
Indian student suicide in London
In another tragic case, just last month, a 25-year-old student from Kamareddy district of Telangana was found dead in his room in London where he was pursuing higher studies. PTI reported that S Srinath Reddy had gone to London 14 months ago.
According to the boy’s father, the circumstances surrounding his son's death are not known. He had spoken to the family members on June 22 night and the conversation was normal. According to him, Srinath Reddy had reportedly attended a birthday party on June 22 night.
A family relative, whose son also resides in London, said Srinath Reddy's roommate had found him dead on June 23 morning.
The roommate said Srinath Reddy had allegedly hung himself.
Next Story