With efforts from Telugu Association of North America and Indian Embassy, Aishwarya Thatikonda's remains will arrive in Hyderabad on 10 May.
A big party was planned for Aishwarya's birthday on 18 May. (Supplied)
Three days after Aishwarya Thatikonda, a 26-year-old engineer from Telangana, was killed in a mass shooting at a mall in Texas, US, her employer Srinivas Chaluvadi shared what he said were his plans for her future.
“I had plans to make her the company’s CEO as she had that talent,” Chaluvadi, president of Perfect General Contractors LLC in Frisco, Texas, told American broadcasting channel CBS News.
After graduating as a civil engineer, Aishwarya landed a job as a project engineer with the US firm.
Chaluvadi said that Aishwarya was “laser focused” on her work and had plans to buy a house in Dallas and settle down.
Aishwarya Thatikonda. (Linkedin)
“Her work ethic was very rare for her age. In some ways, she was no less than a daughter to me. People will remember her not by the way she died, but by the way she lived. She wanted to be here and work forever,” Chaluvadi said, adding that all those dreams are shattered now.
The company was making arrangements to host a big celebration for her 27th birthday on 18 May. In fact, she was at the Allen Premium Outlets mall that fateful day to buy an outfit for her birthday celebrations.
Since her demise, people have been sending bouquets to Aishwarya’s cabin at the office to express grief. He added that the firm now plans to set up a permanent memorial for Aishwarya in her cabin.
Aishwarya’s family live in Saroornagar in Hyderabad and her father, T Narsi Reddy, is a judge in a court in the Ranga Reddy district.
Meanwhile, a source told South First that Aishwarya’s mortal remains, which left the US on 9 May at 12:15 pm (CST), arrived in Hyderabad late on the evening of Wednesday, 10 May.
“It was dispatched via an Emirates flight yesterday with the help of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA),” her school and college friend Sai Vikas told South First.
Taking to social media, Sai Vikas also shared a video of their last meeting.
Our last meet 💔 pic.twitter.com/y2VMNYpbQ9
— Sai Vikas (@vikkyszone) May 8, 2023
The Telugu community took up the responsibility and coordinated with all the agencies, including the Consulate General of India in Houston, to send her mortal remains back to India.
Since 8 May, her friends in India were also continuously requesting the Telangana government and the US Embassy for help.
A total of nine people, including the accused Mauricio Garcia (33), were killed and seven others were injured on 6 May when Garcia opened fire outside the crowded Allen Premium Outlets mall.
As per reports, Aishwarya’s friends and loved ones started panicking on 6 May when she failed to return home and her phone was switched off.
Noting that Aishwarya was a simple and friendly person who grasped everything easily, Dallas-based treasurer of the TANA, Ashok Babu Kolla, said that he started searching for her in several hospitals but in vain.
“Finally, I came to know about the tragic news from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office,” Kolla told South First.
He added that, at first, they did not want to deliver the sad news to the family but later ended up calling them.
“It was a nightmare. The medical exam office sought identification proof and we were able to provide it,” Kolla said.
Expressing grief about the Allen mall tragedy, Ashok Kolla posted a message on Facebook.
“I am deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred at the Allen Shopping outlet. Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured, and everyone who was impacted by this tragedy,” he wrote.
Expressing support and solidarity on behalf of TANA with all those affected, and especially to Aishwarya Thatikonda and her family, he added, “We understand that this is a difficult time for you and your loved ones. Please know that we are here for you and that we stand with you in your grief and pain. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Kolla also thanked Aishwarya’s friends, cousins, and volunteers who continuously persevered during the entire process to expedite the paperwork.
“I also want to thank Collin County Medical Examiner, Health Department and officials from the Consulate General of India, Houston, for their incredible assistance,” he added.
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