Nishith Narayana and Kamani Raja Ravichandra: Best friends in life and death

Nellore: Nishith Narayana and his friend Kamani Raja Ravichandra, both of whom died in a road accident last night after the SUV Nishit was driving crashed into a pillar at high speed, were the only sons of their parents and were also classmates at the Indus International School in Hyderabad.

They also both studied in Singapore later, with Nishith doing an MBA and Ravichandra, a BBM. Ravichandra is a native of Tanguturu in Prakasam district. His father Balamurali Mohana Krishna owns a tobacco export business, Pragathi Tobacco Traders, together with his brother Vijaykumar. The latter is also a TDP leader and presently president of Tanguturu mandal.

Ravichandra lived in Hyderabad with his parents. Relatives said the last rites of Ravichandra will be performed at his native place Tanguturu. Mr Vijaykumar told this newspaper that the family is yet to decide on the last rites because Ravichandra’s sister is trying for a ticket to come to India from the US. More details will be available later.

After his son Nishith, 22, took over as director of the Narayana group, his father and founder of the group, P Narayana, a minister in the AP government, used to say that he could now focus on the development of the new Andhra Pradesh capital, Amaravati, as his son and two daughters were taking care of the chain of educational institutions efficiently. Sources in Narayana education institutes said Nishith was fond of his relatives and friends and always at hand if they required his assistance.

The death of the two young men has sent shock waves among Telugu Desam leaders, relatives and friends of Mr Narayana. Mr Narayana, who is abroad, is expected to reach Chennai by 11.30 pm from London and proceed to Nellore. Elaborate arrangements are being made for the funeral scheduled for Thursday.