In a sorrowful occurrence, a 24-year-old Indian professional met with a fatal accident in the territory of Pennsylvania in the United States. Arshia Joshi met her demise tragically in a car crash in Pennsylvania on March 21, as per the statement from the Consulate General of India in New York, conveyed via X, on Saturday, extending profound sympathies to her kin. Joshi had concluded her academic pursuits just last year.
The Consulate affirmed its communication with Joshi’s family and local influencers. It pledged comprehensive aid to repatriate her mortal remains to India at the earliest, withholding further particulars about the departed. The volunteer-driven charitable entity TEAM Aid has taken charge of facilitating the transportation of Joshi’s remains to Delhi for her family.
TEAM Aid’s central mission revolves around aiding members of the Indian diaspora encountering adversities such as accidents, suicides, homicides, or sudden deaths of loved ones while residing or traveling abroad. Its efforts are dedicated to providing support and facilitating the repatriation of deceased individuals to India who met untimely demises in the United States.
In the midst of a succession of tragic events, our hearts are burdened with sorrow, expressed Mohan Nannapaneni, the founder of TEAM Aid, in conversation with PTI. Over the past week alone, TEAM Aid has overseen the repatriation of the remains of five individuals to India and has arranged three local funerals, he disclosed. Currently, Nannapaneni and his team are aiding several more families in repatriating the mortal remains of their deceased relatives from the US and Canada to India.
These include two truck drivers who met tragic ends in an accident in New Mexico, with their remains destined for Punjab. Additionally, a young truck driver succumbed abruptly in New Mexico, and his remains are being transported to Amritsar, Nannapaneni elaborated. In Seattle, Washington, the untimely demise of a promising 25-year-old Indian student occurred, and efforts are underway to repatriate his remains to Bangalore. Mourning the loss of a skilled 38-year-old culinary expert in San Jose, California, Nannapaneni revealed that his remains are en route to Kolkata.
In a harrowing hit-and-run occurrence, a 50-year-old individual in Palacios, Texas, met his demise, with his remains slated for transport to Ahmedabad for final rites. Another tragic incident unfolded as a 27-year-old recent graduate was discovered deceased in his Vancouver, Canada apartment. “We will ensure his return to Kerala,” stated Nannapaneni.
Respecting the privacy of the deceased, TEAM Aid refrained from disclosing their names and identities. Nannapaneni articulated that his team is in the process of instigating educational and preventative initiatives to offer guidance and support to Indian expatriates, encompassing students and laborers, to ensure their safety and well-being.
Each passing day heralds news of further loss, amidst a plethora of challenges spanning health, immigration, societal concerns, and beyond, he remarked. Earlier this week, former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi issued a video message, advising Indian students in the US to exercise vigilance and adhere to local laws, cautioning against involvement in substance abuse or excessive alcohol consumption to safeguard their well-being and security.
