Hyderabad native Nitheesha Kandula, a 23-year-old student at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), has been missing in California since May 28. Kandula was last seen in Los Angeles, according to a report by IANS.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Southwest Division was notified of her disappearance on May 30, as announced by John Guttierez, Chief of Police at CSUSB, via social media.
“California State University, San Bernardino Police along with our partners in LAPD is asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Nitheesha Kandula to contact us at: (909) 537-5165,” Chief Guttierez posted. (as quoted by Edex Live)
Kandula is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing around 160 pounds, with black hair and black eyes. It is believed she may have been driving a 2021 Toyota Corolla at the time of her disappearance.
The police have urged anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact the LAPD Southwest Division at 213-485-2582 or the CSUSB Police Department at 909-537-7777.
This incident adds to a growing number of similar cases involving Indian students in the United States. In the previous month, Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi, a student from Telangana studying for a Master’s degree at Concordia University in Wisconsin City, was reported missing since May 2. The Indian Consulate in Chicago announced his disappearance, though there has been no confirmation on whether Chintakindi, who hails from Warangal district, has been located.
In another tragic case, Mohammed Abdul Arfath from Hyderabad, who had been missing since March 7, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Arfath, a Master’s degree student in Information Technology at Cleveland University, had not contacted his family since March 7, and his family had received a ransom call before his body was discovered.
Authorities are continuing their efforts to locate Nitheesha Kandula and have requested the public's assistance in providing any information that might help in finding her.