(Image source from: Ndtv.Com)
Indian Student Rescued From Lake In Hurricane-Hit Texas, Dies:- A 24-year-old Indian student, Nikhil Bhatia has died. Nikhil nearly drowned in a swollen lake in the US state of Texas where Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc.
A student at the Texas A&M University, Nikhil was rescued by a police officer from the Lake Bryan, where he along with another Indian girl had gone for swimming on Saturday.
According to the Consulate officials, Bhatia succumbed to his injuries today while Shalini continues to be in a critical condition. Bhatia hails from Jaipur, while his friend Shalini was from New Delhi. They were pursuing Masters in Public Health. Both of them were brought to the local hospital in a critical condition.
According to their friends and some witnesses, the two were swimming in the lake. A sudden water current pushed them down deeper and the students noticed that they were in distress and the nearby police officers were flagged down then.
According to Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson, until medics arrived, the Bryan Police officers were able to rescue and provide CPR to the victims. However, it is still unclear why they were swimming during severe weather.
The medical needs and situation is being monitored closely by Consul General of India in Houston. According to the consulate office, amidst devastating flood situations there, Bhatia's mother Dr Suman Bhatia has already arrived and was assisted by consulate office after receiving her at Dallas airport.
In the storm-ravaged Texas, around 13 million people were battling “catastrophic” flooding and torrential rains where Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc. The havoc turned streets into raging rivers and claimed at least nine lives. The Meteorologists have forecast that the historic rainfall will dump up to 50 inches by tomorrow. Heavy rain bands were expected to move in over the Houston area overnight, which will continue the catastrophic and life-threatening flash-flood emergency in the area.
Due to the flooding after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, at least 200 Indian students stranded at the University of Houston and were being evacuated to safer places, authorities have said. The Indian-American community in the area is providing them food and other supplies.
India’s Consul-General in Houston Anupam Ray has been in touch with the students and monitoring the evacuation process. Hundreds of Indian students, who were stranded in their homes and ran out of food, are being helped by the consulate.
According to local community leaders, at least 100,000 of Indian-Americans live in and around Houston area have been badly hit by the hurricane.
SUPRAJA
