An Indian-origin student, Sameer Kamath, tragically met his demise in the United States this week, marking the fifth such incident this year. The Warren County Coroner’s office confirmed that Kamath, a doctoral candidate at Indiana’s Purdue University, was discovered deceased at a nature reserve on Monday evening.
Aged 23, Kamath had recently completed his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in August 2023 and was a US citizen. He was on track to finish his doctoral program by 2025, according to official statements. Authorities plan to conduct a forensic autopsy today, with the report expected to be released soon.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another heartbreaking loss within the Indian student community at Purdue University. Neel Acharya, also of Indian descent, was found deceased on campus grounds shortly after his mother reported him missing. His mother, Gaury, had appealed for assistance on social media, disclosing that Neel was last seen by an Uber driver who dropped him off at the campus.
In a separate occurrence last week, 19-year-old Shreyas Reddy was discovered deceased in Ohio. Law enforcement officials have ruled out foul play or the possibility of a hate crime in this case.
Tragically, Vivek Saini, an MBA student in Georgia’s Lithonia, lost his life on January 16th after being attacked by a homeless individual. Saini was reportedly assaulted when he declined to provide free food to the assailant. The altercation resulted in Saini’s untimely passing after sustaining numerous blows.
These incidents have spotlighted the myriad challenges faced by the substantial Indian student population in the United States, which numbers over 300,000. Experts point to mental stress, loneliness, and susceptibility to substance abuse as factors exacerbating the severity of such occurrences. They emphasize the crucial need for heightened awareness and robust support systems to address the mental health needs of international students.
Read More:
