Andhra Pradesh Student Found Dead In US After Sudden Illness; Indian Diaspora Launches Fundraiser For Repatriation

A 23-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh tragically passed away in the United States on November 7, leaving her family, friends, and the Indian diaspora community in shock. The student, identified as Rajyalakshmi (Raji) Yarlagadda, had recently completed her Master’s degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and was actively searching for employment opportunities. 

According to her cousin Chaitanya YVK, who created a GoFundMe fundraiser from Denton, Texas, Raji had been suffering from a severe cough and chest pain for two to three days. She had informed her family of her illness on the night of November 6 and mentioned that she had already scheduled a doctor’s appointment for November 9. Despite her discomfort, she continued to rest at home, hoping to recover soon.

On the morning of November 7, she did not wake up when her alarm rang. Concerned friends checked on her and discovered that she had passed away in her sleep. Emergency responders confirmed her death shortly after.

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Dreams Cut Short

Raji had moved to the United States with hopes of building a promising career and supporting her family back home, who depend on small-scale farming for their livelihood. Having only recently completed her studies, she was preparing to begin her first professional role, guided by aspirations to uplift her parents and continue their agricultural journey.

Community Steps In

To support the family, members of the Indian community in Texas launched a fundraiser to cover transportation and funeral arrangements. The GoFundMe campaign describes her as a “bright, hopeful soul” whose ambitions reflected the dreams of many young Indian students studying abroad.

Within hours, donations and heartfelt messages began pouring in from students, alumni, and well-wishers around the world. Local political leaders have also reached out. Archur MLA YeluriSambasiva Rao expressed deep condolences and assured the grieving family that the Andhra Pradesh government would extend all possible assistance to bring Raji’s remains back to India at the earliest.

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