Toronto: An Indian student, who had recently completed his master's degree and was job hunting in Canada, drowned in a lake on his birthday. According to reports, A. Praneeth, hailed from Hyderabad's Ranga Reddy district. The student had gone on a holiday with friends and his brother to a cottage near Clear Lake in Canada on Saturday.
Praneeth had moved to Canada in 2019 for his studies, followed by his elder brother in 2022.
A. Ravi, the victim's father said Praneeth went swimming with his friends and brother on Sunday morning but did not return to the shore. The devastated father said he got the tragic news of Praneeth's death from one of his son's friends. The local police were notified, and Ravi mentioned that rescue teams took over 10 hours to arrive at the lake. The body was recovered in the evening.
Family seeks government help
The grieving family has appealed to the government for help in bringing Praneeth’s body back to India.
Praneeth’s father expressed deep sorrow, highlighting the tragic irony that his son’s birthday celebration turned into a day of mourning. The family is seeking support to expedite the repatriation process of Praneeth’s body to Hyderabad.
“Both along with other friends visited the lake to celebrate the birthday of Praneeth on Saturday. On Sunday, they went swimming. While everyone returned, the younger one ( Praneeth) did not,” the grieving father told reporters.
Indian student drowns in New York
Earlier in July, an Indian student identified as Sai Surya Avinash Gadde, who was studying at Trine University, drowned at Barbervilley Falls in Albany, according to the Indian Consulate General in New York.
This came after Guntipalli Sowmya, 25, a native of Telangana's Yadagirigutta and studying in Florida Atlantic University, was killed in a tragic road accident on May 26. She was killed by a speeding car while crossing the road in Florida. Media reports also claimed that she celebrated her 25th birthday on May 11.
Prior to that, another Indian student died in a bike accident in the US on May 23. The deceased, Belem Atchyuth, was a student of the State University of New York (SUNY) who hailed from Andhra Pradesh. Three Indian-origin students were killed while two others were injured in a devastating car crash in the city of Alpharetta in the US State of Georgia earlier that month.
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