Brahm Kanchibhotla a correspondent for United News of India died on the morning of April 6th after fighting against the novel coronavirus in a New York hospital for nine days.
His death follows that of 51-year old technology writer Anick Jesdanun who died April 2.
The 66-year old Kanchibhotla emigrated to the US in 1992 after working for several publications in India. Throughout his 28-year career in the States, Kanchibhotla worked as a content editor for Merger Markets, a financial publication from 2007. He was also a senior correspondent for United News of India, a wire service based in New Delhi where he wrote about New York City’s economy and ethnic communities from 2001 to 2006.
Brahm Kanchibhotla son, Sudama Kanchibhotla told Live Mint that his father showed COVID-19 symptoms from March 23rd. Five days after his symptoms worsened, doctors admitted Brahm to a hospital on Long Island and immediately gave him an oxygen mask. Sudama said his father was then put on ventilator and on Monday died from cardiac arrest.
Brahman Kanchibhotla succumbed to the deadly pandemic, leaving his wife Anjana, son Sudama and daughter Siujana behind.
At the moment, the Kanchibhotlas are not sure how they will hold a funeral for Brahm because of COVID-19 restrictions in New York. “We have not set a date and it will have to be a very small gathering because only ten people are allowed at funerals,” Sudama told Live Mint.
The Asian American Journalists Association on Monday also announced the death of Jesdanun. Affectionately known as Nick, he covered technology for the Associated Press from the beginnings of the internet.
“He covered the rise of the internet with sharp insight and a sense of humor, closely reporting on the ways in which it changed our everyday lives, including his own,” said a statement from AAJA. “Nick worked at the AP bureaus in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Washington, and was most recently based in New York.”
An avid runner, he completed 83 marathons, including one in Antarctica, reported the AP.
According to India West, as of April 6, 10,522 people in the US have died of COVID-19 related illnesses. New York has the highest numbers of deaths in all states with 4,758 dead.
India West also reported that the Consulate General of India said that it was in touch with the families of the deceased and uploaded an online advisory urging Indian Americans to practice Ayurveda (science of life) and boost their immunity. The full advisory is available here,
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