For the Mallepally household in Hyderabad, the night of December 31 was a dark one.
Their 20-year-old daughter Rakshitha Mallepally had an accident thousands of kilometres away from them in Sydney, and passed away the next day. The accident had occurred at Pendle Hill in Sydney's western suburbs.
Highlights:
- 20-year-old Rakshitha Mallepally met with an accident on 31 December 2020.
- A fundraising campaign was started by her family member Sahithi Gattu.
- Ms Mallepally was studying Bachelor of Information Technology at IIBIT college, Sydney.
Rakshitha was an international student studying a Bachelor of Information Technology at IIBIT college, Sydney.
NSW police said in a statement that just after 3:30am on Thursday December 31 2020, emergency services were called to Wentworth Avenue in Pendle Hill, following reports a motorcycle had crashed.
On arrival, NSW Ambulance Paramedics and officers attached to Parramatta City Police Area Command found a 20-year-old woman with serious head injuries.
She was transported to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition, but died the following day.
A woman has died following a motorcycle crash in Sydney’s West on New Year’s Eve.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
“Just like any other middle-class father Venkat Reddy borrowed money from multiple sources to fund Rakshitha’s studies with the hope that she will eventually earn and pay it off,” read an emotional appeal on the Gofundme websites' page.
The Indian community came together to help the grieving family, raising a whopping sum of $61,993 before the fundraiser was closed on January 3.
“On behalf of Rakshitha’s family members, we thank everyone for your remarkable contribution and kindness towards this cause and in helping to spread the news!!! All the funds that we have received will be directly transferred to their family,” Ms Gattu wrote on the fundraising page.
Adelaide-based Voriganti Shakti Goud says the community is devastated.
“A young life is lost. It is a huge loss not just for the family but for the Indian community here in Australia. We all are heartbroken. The least we can do is support the family in this difficult time,” Mr Goud told SBS Hindi.
He also raises the concerns regarding Indian international students dying on roads.
"So many students are die in road accidents. Last year I saw a 21-year-old boy from Kerala killed in a roan accident in Adelaide. I think international students should be educated on road safety," he said.
"Rakshitha Mallepally’s mortal remains will be sent to Hyderabad, India on the next available flight," said Ms Gattu.
