The family of Arukonda Rajesh, a 32-year-old from Telangana’s Atmakur who died in Mississippi, US, is still awaiting clarity on what led to his demise. According to the family, they received a call that he had died at his workplace on the night of August 15-16, but Mississippi state police have not shared any further details so far. Rajesh was unmarried, his family said, and had diabetes.
“The family received a call from the US police around 3 pm Friday. He had gone to the US in 2016. He had a Masters in Pharmacy and found a job there,” said his cousin A Srinivas Goud.
Rajesh’s father Sambaiah died in August last year, but Rajesh could not return as he had suffered a leg fracture at the time. “He promised to be here for the first anniversary. We were waiting for him eagerly,” Goud said.
The details of how and where he died are sketchy. The only contact Rajesh’s family members have – a Telugu woman who was known to him – is no longer in touch, they say. “She sent a message that his body was at Dean Memorial Funeral Home. He was not in regular touch with his family after he lost a high paying job during the Covid pandemic and lockdown. He told me he was doing multiple jobs to keep going,” Goud said.
His mother Nilimamma, who received the call from the US, said, “I just went numb. I could not breathe, I could not speak, I could not tell what the call was about. It felt like I was dying. He went for a good life but died trying to earn so he could send money here and we could live well. He did his B.Pharm from Jangaon, and M.Pharm from Hanamkonda. He dreamt of making it big in the US and wanted to give us a better life.”
Rajesh belongs to a family of palm tree tappers, who are listed as a socially and economically backward community.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
