Indian doctoral student killed in shooting incident in US

A 26-year-old Indian doctoral student died in a tragic incident after being shot while inside a car in the state of Ohio, USA. The University of Cincinnati Medical School identified the student as Aaditya Adlakha, a fourth-year doctoral student specialising in molecular and developmental biology. The incident occurred on November 9, when Cincinnati Police responded to reports of a man shot inside a vehicle that had crashed into a wall on the upper deck of the Western Hills Viaduct. ShotSpotter, a gunfire locator service, indicated gunfire in the area around 6:20 am, prompting passersby to call 911 after observing a vehicle with bullet holes and an injured occupant. Adlakha was rushed to UC Medical Center in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries two days later. The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office confirmed his death. Despite media reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. University officials, including Senior Vice President of Health Affairs and Dean Andrew Filak, expressed profound sadness over Adlakha’s sudden demise. Describing him as beloved, kind, intelligent, and humorous, Filak highlighted Adlakha’s groundbreaking research in neuroimmune communication, particularly its implications for pain and inflammation in ulcerative colitis. Originally from North India, Adlakha pursued his medical education in Cincinnati after earning a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Delhi in 2018 and a master’s degree in physiology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 2020. With inputs from PTI