An Indian-origin student’s search has ended in heartbreak. The 17-year-old Gautham Rajanikanth was officially announced dead by the authorities and his parents in the US.
Gautham was a Class 11 student from South Fayette High School near Pittsburgh and had been missing since March 15. According to his obituary, he died the next day on March 16 but the search for him went on.
Authorities have not revealed the cause of death. Even the family didn’t reveal any further information in their official statement.
His parents, Rajanikanth and Gayatri, launched a fundraiser in Gautham’s memory. The campaign has already completed its $75,000 goal, now standing at over $83,000 from more than 1,200 donors.
The official statement on the GoFundMe page says this will support local fire departments involved in the search and mental health programs in Pennsylvania. The family said they want to “turn grief into action.”
The sudden death of the 17-year old has shaken both the local community and the Indian diaspora. With no official explanation yet, more details on the nature of death are awaited.
