Indian doctoral student Aaditya Adlakha fatally shot in US; varsity mourns 'senseless' tragedy'

Washington, November 23: Aaditya Adlakha, a 26-year-old Indian doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati Medical School, Cincinnati, United States, died after being fatally shot while inside a car that crashed into a wall on the Western Hills Viaduct earlier this month.

According to reports, Cincinnati police discovered Adlakha shot inside the vehicle after ShotSpotter detected gunfire in the area at approximately 6:20 am. Passing drivers alerted the authorities upon noticing bullet holes in the car. Adlakha was rushed to the UC Medical Centre, but succumbed to his injuries two days later.

The incident, which occurred without any arrests made, has left the community in shock. University officials and peers mourned Adlakha's untimely demise, describing him as a beloved, intelligent, and dedicated student in the molecular and developmental biology programme. He was known for his innovative research on neuroimmune communication and its relation to conditions such as ulcerative colitis.

Originally from North India, Adlakha pursued his passion for medicine after completing his bachelor's degree in Zoology from the University of Delhi and a master's degree in physiology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.

His vehicle bore multiple bullet holes, indicating the severity of the incident, which has deeply saddened those who knew him and the wider community.