Two Nepali youths lost their lives in a car crash in Chantilly, Virginia, on Thursday night. The victims are Suresh KC, a resident of ward 7 of Athbiskot Municipality, Rukum West, and Vivek Subedi, from Madhuwan Municipality, Bardiya.

Suresh had travelled to the US through illegal routes 11 months ago, paying Rs8 million to human traffickers, and had been working at a restaurant. Vivek, aged 22, had travelled to the US on a scholarship to pursue higher education and was studying for a master’s degree in computer science at Washington University.

Another youth in the vehicle sustained injuries, while the driver, Vijay Tamang, suffered minor injuries. Tamang has been detained by the police on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and is being held responsible for the crash.

Upon hearing of the tragic deaths, the families of Suresh and Vivek have been engulfed by grief.

Suresh left home on March 2, 2023, and arrived in the US on January 5. His father, Hari Bahadur Khatri, said Suresh had been working at a restaurant after reaching the US. He learned of his son’s death from a friend, who confirmed that Suresh and Vivek had died in a car crash while returning home from work.

Suresh’s father, Hari Bahadur, shared the emotional burden of sending his son to the US. He had taken out a loan of Rs8 million to send Suresh to the US via the illegal route, passing through several countries by land and sea. During the 11 months Suresh worked in the US, he sent Rs1.4 million back home. “I thought I would repay the loan once Suresh started earning,” Hari Bahadur said, choking on his words. “I spoke to him two days before the accident, and that was our last conversation.”

KC’s mother, Ram Kumari Khatri, recalled their final conversation, where Suresh had promised to send money as soon as he received his salary. “The debt, including interest, has now surpassed Rs10 million, and we’ve barely paid any of it,” said Ram Kumari, who hasn’t been able to eat or drink since receiving the heartbreaking news. “We had little money, and now we face a massive debt. We’ve lost our sole breadwinner.”

The family, which includes Suresh’s mother, father, three sisters, and a three-year-old brother, is now grappling with financial as well as mental strain left by his death. A friend of Suresh in the US, Saresh Gautam, said that the local police are investigating the incident. The body is expected to be released on Friday for funeral arrangements.

Suresh’s uncle, Tapta Bahadur Batala, said a symbolic cremation would be performed in Nepal according to Hindu traditions, using an effigy of kush (holy grass), after the funeral rites in the US.

According to Suresh’s neighbour, Deepak KC, the family is in a serious financial crisis and desperately needs help. “A few thousand rupees won’t resolve their problem; they need significant support,” he said. “We hope for assistance from friends and relatives in Nepal and abroad.”

In recent years, human traffickers have been sending youths from various villages of Rukum to the US. Many of these young people face challenges such as unemployment, lower-than-expected earnings, mental stress, and even fatal accidents. Despite this, the number of Nepali youths attempting to travel to the US through illegal routes continues to rise.

Deepak said that 14 youths from his locality alone have taken illegal routes to the US. “One after another, youths are heading to the US. Some repay their debts over time, but achieving financial stability remains a distant dream. The so-called American dream seems to be an illusion,” he said.

In Bardiya, Kusum Subedi, Vivek’s mother, has been struggling to cope with the shock. Yam Prasad, who runs a small tea shop at Kusumba Bazar in Madhuwan of Bardiya, had sent his only son, Vivek, to the US for higher education. “On Thursday, my son told me over the phone that he was fine and heading for a meal,” said Vivek’s father, Yam Prasad. “That was the last time we spoke.” Since the accident, Kusum has been losing consciousness frequently due to the trauma.

Vivek’s untimely death has plunged the entire village into mourning. A brilliant student, Vivek had received a scholarship to study in the US and travelled there on September 20 last year. He was in his first year of a master’s degree in computer science at Washington University.

Yam Prasad said that his son had recently started working part-time at a restaurant during his free time. “The plan was for him to return home after completing his studies, but now all our dreams have been shattered,” he said. “I wish I could see my son one last time. Since I cannot travel to the US for the funeral, I urge the government to help bring his body back to Nepal.”

Yam Prasad first learned about the accident on Friday night but could not gather further details. “I’ve been told that Vivek and a man from Rukum, who were seated in the back of the car, lost their lives while the person in the front seat survived,” he said. “I don’t know whether to console myself, comfort my wife, or try to make sense of what happened. I’m completely at a loss.”

Yam Prasad had spent around Rs3 million to send his son to the US. The village, which had been celebrating Vivek’s achievements, is now mourning his sudden and tragic death.