Techie From Vizianagaram Drowns In US River
Sai Krishna, after completing his engineering, recently went to the US to take up a job and has been living in Saint Louis, close to the Meramec river
VISAKHAPATNAM, Hyderabad: Singireddy Sai Sree Hari Krishna, 26, a software engineer from Piridi in Bobbili mandal of Vizianagaram district, drowned in the Meramec river in Missouri, US, on Saturday.
His brother‑in‑law Swamy Naidu, a software engineer based in Hyderabad, said Krishna was celebrating his birthday at the riverside. While walking along the bank with five friends, a sudden gush of water swept him into the river. Rescue teams reached within 15 minutes but could not save him. His body was later recovered.
A statement by the Missouri state highway patrol however said: “The 25-year-old man entered the Meramec River at 08:45 am to swim, and began to struggle. He went underwater and never resurfaced.” The Sullivan fire protection department, along with the Missouri state highway patrol, worked in the river and recovered Krishna’s body.
Naidu said a post‑mortem would be conducted on Tuesday, after which the body would be brought home.
Krishna had gone to the US in July 2023 to pursue an MS course and joined Elessent Clean Technologies in Saint Louis in December last year. Friends and family members were raising funds on GoFundMe for funeral and repatriation costs.
Villagers recalled that he had promised his parents financial support to build a house and live comfortably. His father, S Srinivasa Rao, works as an autorickshaw driver, while his mother, Rama Devi, is employed at the local PHC. The youngest of three children, Hari Krishna leaves behind two married elder sisters.
The news of his death has devastated his family and the village. The sarpanch and local leaders have approached Bobbili MLA R.V.S.K.K. Ranga Rao, requesting his intervention to expedite the repatriation of the body from Missouri.
