A tragic road accident in the United States has claimed the lives of two young women from Telangana, leaving their families in Mahabubabad district devastated. The victims, childhood friends who pursued their dreams together in America, died during a holiday trip in California.
Details of the Fatal California Crash
Meghana Rani Pullakhandam, aged 25, and Bhavana Kadiyala, aged 24, lost their lives on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The accident occurred in Bishop city, California. According to reports, the car they were travelling in suddenly veered off the road at a sharp curve on Alabama Hills Road and plunged into a gorge.
Both women were recent graduates, having completed their master's degrees in computer science from the University of Dayton in Ohio. They were actively seeking employment in their field at the time of the accident. The trip to California was meant to be a 10-day holiday with friends.
Families in Telangana Struck by Grief
The families in Mahabubabad district received the heartbreaking news on Sunday evening. Meghana belonged to Garla village, where her father, Nageswara Rao, runs a Mee Seva centre. Bhavana's family hails from Mulkanoor village, and her father, Koteshwar Rao, serves as the upa sarpanch of the village.
In a conversation with the media, Nageswara Rao shared that his daughter had spoken to them just before the trip. "Meghana told us over the phone that they were going on holiday for 10 days. The accident took place on the fourth day of their trip. We are heartbroken," he said. He has appealed to the government for assistance in bringing the bodies of the two women back home to India.
Bhavana's father, Koteshwar Rao, was described as being inconsolable and in a state of profound shock, unable to speak about his daughter's sudden demise.
A Journey of Friendship and Dreams
The two women shared an inseparable bond, having attended school and college together in India before moving to the United States to further their education. Their journey was one of shared ambition and determination.
A tribute on a fundraising page highlighted Meghana's background and aspirations. Her brother, Venkatesh Gupta Pullakhandam, wrote, "It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of our dear sister, Meghana Rani Pullakhandam." He mentioned that she, fondly called Chikki, came from a lower middle-class family and had moved to the US with many dreams.
Reports indicate that two other students in the same car suffered injuries in the accident. Another group of four friends was travelling with them in a separate vehicle, which was not involved in the crash.
The incident has cast a pall of sorrow over their native villages in Telangana, as families and the community mourn the loss of two promising young lives cut short far from home.
