VIJAYAWADA: A 23-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh died in the US on November 7, leaving her family and friends devastated. The student, Rajyalakshmi (Raji) Yarlagadda, was a recent graduate of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and had been seeking employment after completing her studies.According to her cousin Chaitanya YVK, who launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe from Denton, Texas, Raji had been suffering from a severe cough and chest pain for two to three days before her death. On the morning of November 7, she did not wake up when her alarm went off. Her friends later discovered that she had passed away in her sleep.
In the GoFundMe appeal, Chaitanya wrote that Raji came to the US with dreams of building a better future for her family, who depend on their small farmland in Karmechedu of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh. “She was a bright, hopeful soul who dreamed of helping her parents continue their farming journey,” he said.The family’s farmland, crops, and livestock form their primary livelihood. Raji was their youngest member, and her ambition was to support her parents financially once she began her professional career. Her sudden death has left the family not only heartbroken but also facing financial hardship.The fundraising campaign aims to cover funeral expenses, transportation of her body to India, repayment of educational loans, and to provide some financial support to her parents. Chaitanya appealed to friends and well-wishers to contribute, adding that even small donations would bring comfort to the grieving family. A medical examination is currently underway in the US to determine the exact cause of death. Meanwhile, the Indian community in Texas has extended support to expedite the repatriation process, and the Indian consulate is expected to assist with formalities.
