(Image source from: Deccanchronicle.com)

Days after a 25-year-old Indian student was rescued along with another Indian man from a swollen lake in the US state of Texas, where Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc, has died at Houston.

The student, Shalini Singh was pursuing Masters degree in public health from the Texas A&M University. Shalini was rescued along with another Indian student Nikhil Bhatia, from the Lake Bryan, where they had gone swimming last Saturday.

On August 30, Bhatia died in hospital, while Singh who continued to be in a critical condition, was declared dead late on Sunday night. Her younger brother and maternal uncle, who flew in from New Delhi on August 30, were with her at the time of death.

Shalini originally hailed from Delhi. She came to the US only in August to pursue the two years Masters program after her degree in Dental Surgery from I T S Dental College in Greater Noida. According to the consulate sources, She will be cremated in Bryan on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

Till the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, Singh continued to be on life support, according to the Consulate officials. The officials were in regular touch with the family members in hospital. According to their friends and some witnesses, Singh and Bhatia were swimming in the lake when a sudden current of water pushed them deeper. The friends accompanying them noticed that the duo were in distress and flagged down nearby police officers.

According to Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was provided by the Bryan police officers to the victims until medics arrived. Consul General of India in Houston, Dr Anupam Ray had been monitoring her medical needs and situation closely.

Around 13 million people were battling “catastrophic” flooding and torrential rains in the storm-ravaged Texas where Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc, claiming at least 50 lives. At least 150,000 Indian-Americans live in and around Houston area and have been badly hit by the hurricane, according to local community leaders.

SUPRAJA