In a tragic turn of events, 23-year-old Sameer Kamath, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at Purdue University, was discovered lifeless in the woods at the Niches Land Trust on Monday evening. Sadly, Kamath becomes the fourth Indian-American student to meet a untimely end in the United States in less than two weeks.
Kamath, a U.S. citizen hailing from Massachusetts, had completed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst before pursuing advanced studies at Purdue. Having obtained his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue in August 2023, he was set to graduate from the doctoral program in 2025, as indicated by his LinkedIn profile.
The circumstances surrounding Kamath’s death are currently under investigation by the Warren County Coroner’s Office and Sheriff’s Office. The authorities, however, have reassured the public that there is no imminent threat.
This unfortunate incident adds to a distressing trend, with at least seven Indian-origin students reported dead in the U.S. in the first month of 2024 alone. The safety of Indian students studying abroad has become a growing concern, prompting questions about the circumstances leading to these tragic events.
Among the recent incidents, Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a student at the Linder School of Business in Ohio, passed away, ruling out foul play or a hate crime. Neel Acharya, another Purdue University student, was confirmed dead after being reported missing. In Georgia, Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old pursuing an MBA and working part-time, was fatally attacked with a hammer by a homeless man. Akul Dhawan, an 18-year-old student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was found dead from hypothermia, leading to accusations of negligence against the university’s police department by his parents.
The distressing incidents also include the mysterious deaths of G Dinesh and Nikesh, both Indian students found dead under suspicious circumstances in their Connecticut accommodation.
As these tragedies unfold, the safety and well-being of Indian students studying in the U.S. demand serious attention and investigation.
