Vishweshwar Reddy Bethi, graduate student from Southern Arkansas University, was found dead on Thursday April 23, 2015 in Buffalo River Park, Arkansas.
Vishweshwar came to United States in 2013 for graduate studies. He was the only son of Mahendar Reddy from Manorabad village in Medak district, Telangana.
As soon as the news came out, Houston ATA Regional Coordinator Sreedhar Reddy Kanchanakuntla and ATA Community Services team Ram Annadi and Ashok Kondala got in touch with the ATA team members and relatives in USA.
Given the financial condition of Vishweshwar's family in India, and the cost involved in transporting the body, the family could not afford to have his body returned to India for final rites.
Vishweshwar's family representative in India, Mr. Veera Reddy pleaded for help to transport remains of their son to India for last sight and to perform funeral rites.
As it became evident that Vishweshwar's family can not afford for his body to be sent back to India, ATA President Sudhakar Perkari made a plea for contributions to send Vishweshwar's body home to his family.
ATA and community members at large with outpouring sympathy for the family have obliged to the President Perkari's call for help and made generous contributions.
Viewing was arranged for Vishweshwar's friends in Little Rock, AK on April 28th. After the completion of necessary paperwork, the body was transported to Newark, New Jersey, then to Hyderabad on April 30th.
ATA Team members were in constant touch with the family representative Nagarjun Reddy Veerannagari and friends in US and with Vishweshwar's family in India throughout the process.
Vishweshwar's body was received by his uncle Veera Reddy today around 3pm EST (May 2nd 12:30am IST) from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.
Parents and Family members in their grief are overwhelmed by sympathy and timely support ATA has provided during this difficult time. Mr. Veera Reddy requested to convey their gratitude to ATA organization and each and everyone who made it possible to see their son and perform his last rites.
ATA Community Service team Ram Annadi and Ashok Kondala, Regional Coordinator Sridhar Kanchankuntla, ATA Advisory Committee Chair and members Hanmanth Reddy, Srinivas Pinnapureddy, Sandhya Gavva, President Sudhakar Perkari, Past-President Karunakar Madhavaram, President-Elect Karunakar Asireddy, Secretary Madhu Bommineni, Treasurer Kalyan Anandula, Trustees Parmesh Bheemreddy, Ajay Reddy Eleti, Arvind Reddy Muppidi and ATA Trust Fund Chair Bhuvanesh Boojala along with many others have constantly monitored the unfortunate situation to address any hurdles in the process of documentation and arrangements related to transporting the remains of the ill-fated young student.
Thanks to the outpouring support and generosity of many, Vishweshwar's family was able to have him back for the last rites.
ATA family expresses deepest condolences to the family and friends of Vishweshwar.
