A 22-year-old Indian student from Telangana is in a coma after a 25-foot fall at a Chicago transit station, prompting her family to seek urgent assistance.
A 22-year-old Indian student from Telangana is currently fighting for her life in the United States after suffering a severe fall at a Chicago-area transit station. The incident has led her family to urgently seek financial and travel assistance.
Lagishetti Spandana, a master’s student at Elmhurst University in Illinois, reportedly fell nearly 25 feet from a staircase connected to Chicago’s elevated transit system, known as the “L,” on May 30. Authorities and family members confirmed that she sustained multiple serious injuries as a result of the fall.
Originally from Nagarjuna Colony in Naspur, Mancherial district, Telangana, Spandana was quickly transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Medical professionals have indicated that she suffered from multiple hemorrhages, fractures, spinal injuries, bone dislocations, liver lacerations, and other traumatic injuries. She remains in intensive care and is currently in a coma.
The accident occurred just months before Spandana was expected to complete her degree. Her father, Lagishetti Srinivas, shared that she traveled to the United States in early 2025 to pursue higher education and had only a few months left before graduation.
The devastating news has left her family in Telangana grappling with the situation. Srinivas and his wife, Sunitha, do not possess passports or U.S. visas, which complicates their ability to travel to America to be by their daughter’s side. Local media reports indicate that the family has reached out to government authorities for assistance in obtaining emergency travel documents and financial support.
A letter from a trauma surgeon at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital has reportedly urged authorities to expedite visa approvals for Spandana’s parents, allowing them to visit her during this critical time.
In response to the family’s plight, community members and friends have initiated fundraising efforts to help cover the mounting medical and travel expenses. A GoFundMe campaign created by supporters had raised over $44,000 as of late Friday, highlighting the community’s solidarity during this challenging time.
The incident has garnered attention across the Indian diaspora, particularly among Telugu-speaking communities in both the United States and India. Many individuals have expressed their concern and support for Spandana’s family as they await updates on her condition.
According to The American Bazaar, the family continues to seek assistance while hoping for a recovery for their daughter.