Two Indian students tragically lost their lives and two others were seriously injured in a fatal car accident in County Carlow, Ireland, on Friday. The students, Cherekuri Suresh Chowdary and Chithoori Bhargav, both in their 20s, were declared dead at the scene after the vehicle they were traveling in struck a tree at Graiguenaspiddoge.
The Tragic Incident
Carlow Garda Station Superintendent Anthony Farrell confirmed that the students were in a black Audi A6 when the car veered off the road and crashed into a tree. The car is believed to have been traveling from Mount Leinster through Fenagh before reaching Carlow. “All of those in the car are part of our Indian community living together in Carlow town. Our sincere sympathies are extended to the community at this time,” Farrell said.
Two survivors, a man and a woman, aged in their 20s, suffered severe injuries and were rushed to St. Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny. The four friends had been sharing a house in Carlow. The four friends had recently graduated from South East Technological University (SETU) in Carlow. One of them was said to have joined MSD, a pharmaceutical company, locally.
Fundraiser Launched to Support Families
Following the tragic event, a family friend, Venkat Vuppala, started an online fundraiser to cover funeral expenses. The fundraising campaign raised over 25,000 Euros in less than 24 hours. In a distraught post, Vuppala said, “We are grieved at the sudden demise of Bhargav Chitturi and Suresh Cherukuri. With much grief we have to communicate to all, that two Indian students of SETU Carlow have lost their lives in an accident through car accident on 31 January in Carlow.”
He continued, “In these trying times, we hope to come together in respect of their families to make provision for the funeral expense and other financial setbacks. ”
The Indian Embassy in Dublin also expressed its “deepest condolences to the families of the victims” and assured to provide “all possible assistance being made available to the injured persons”.