A software engineer from Visakhapatnam city reportedly drowned in Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey on Saturday. His body was retrieved by the New Jersey police on Monday.
Avinash Kuna (32), son of K. Venkata Rao, a senior foreman in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, had gone to the U.S. five years ago to obtain a Master’s degree in computer science. After completing his MS, he joined UPS Technology Centre in Parsippany as a software engineer.
Family members of Avinash said that the tragic incident took place two days after Avinash’s birthday celebrations (May 28). On Saturday, Avinash, who loves boating and has a license, had rented a boat and invited eight of his friends for a joyride on the lake.
They rented a pontoon boat to tour the lake and after covering a distance, Avinash jumped into the lake for a swim. However, he got stuck in weeds and drowned, according to his friends.
Mayor of Hopatcong, Michael Francis, spoke to Avinash’s family members and informed them that though the lake was about 5 to 8 feet deep, Avinash was caught in the weeds which were about 3 feet high.
His friends on board the pontoon boat informed the family that Avinash tried to surface, but even before they could try to rescue him, he drowned. A pall of gloom descended in the township area. His parents went into a state of shock after receiving the news.
It is learnt that Avinash’s friends in the U.S. have started an online fundraising drive to gather money for sending the body back home for the last rites.His family members have sought the help of Visakhapatnam MP-elect M.V.V. Satyanarayana, District Collector K. Bhaskar and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for the speedy return of the body.
Dreams snuffed out
Avinash completed his MS from New Mexico State University in 2014 and settled there after getting a job as a software engineer in UPS. Before joining UPS, Avinash had worked with Torch Bearer Ltd. Co. in the U.S.
Avinash’s father Venkata Rao is an active member of CITU at the Visakhaptnam Steel Plant. CITU and CPM leader Ch. Narasinga Rao and others met District Collector K. Bhaskar requesting them to speed up the process to receive the body from the U.S. Avinash’s body will be flown to India once it is released from the medical examiner’s office in the U.S. He is survived by his parents and his sister.