Sasikanth Reddy Donthireddy, a 30-year-old Indian national who had been living in the United States for nearly eight years, has died following a cardiac arrest, according to an online fundraiser started to help return his mortal remains to India.
Donthireddy moved to the US in 2018 to pursue higher studies. Over the years, he completed two master’s degrees and built his professional life there.
According to reports, the fundraising appeal describes him as someone from a middle-class Indian family who went abroad with the hope of creating better opportunities for himself and supporting his loved ones back home.
However, his journey was marked by prolonged uncertainty over his immigration status. The campaign notes that he participated multiple times in the H-1B visa lottery process in an effort to secure long-term work authorisation in the US. Despite his academic credentials and continued employment, he was not selected in any of the attempts.
The lack of clarity over his visa future is said to have taken an emotional toll.
According to the fundraiser, the repeated rejections and instability caused considerable stress, particularly in recent months. It also states that he had not been able to return to India since relocating in 2018, meaning his family had not seen him in person for almost eight years.
The medical emergency occurred in the early hours of February 16. As per details shared in the campaign, Donthireddy complained of chest pain and was immediately taken to hospital. Doctors, however, were unable to save him.
The appeal suggests that the ongoing professional and immigration-related pressures contributed to heightened stress levels prior to his death. His passing comes at a time when US immigration rules, especially pathways like the H-1B programme, continue to be widely debated.
Following his death, friends and well-wishers launched a fundraiser titled “After 8 Years Apart – Help His Family See Him One Last Time.” The initiative seeks financial assistance to transport his body back to India and to help his parents perform the final rites.
According to the campaign organisers, the cost of repatriating a body internationally is substantial. In addition to coping with the sudden loss of their son, his parents are also facing financial strain linked to the transportation and funeral expenses.
The fundraiser calls on the community to contribute towards ensuring that Donthireddy can be brought back home, allowing his family to see him one last time and conduct the last rites in India.
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