Telangana Student Shot Dead In Chicago

In a tragic incident, a 22-year-old Indian student from Telangana was shot dead during an armed robbery at a shopping mall where he was working part-time on Friday. The deceased is identified as Sai Teja Nukarapu.

Sai Teja, originally from Khammam district, was at the cash counter when a group of armed men stormed the mall, opened fire, and looted the cash register. He succumbed to his injuries on the spot.

Having completed his BBA in India, Sai Teja had travelled to the U.S. three months ago to pursue an MBA. His untimely death adds to a string of tragic incidents involving Indian students abroad in recent times.

Just a week earlier, another student from Telangana, 23-year-old Aryan Reddy, lost his life in Atlanta, Georgia, after accidentally discharging his firearm on his birthday.

The recent data highlights a growing trend of Indian students pursuing education in the U.S. In the 2023-24 academic year, India surpassed China as the leading source of international students in US universities. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh contributed significantly, accounting for 34% and 22% of these students, respectively.

The U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad reported conducting over 47,000 student visa interviews in the summer of 2024, a significant rise from 35,000 in the previous year. Public affairs officer Alexander McLaren noted that nearly 3.3 lakh Indian students enrolled in U.S. institutions last year, predominantly in master's programs.