America News, Education News: Justice has finally been served on the death of 23-year-old Indian student Jhanvi Kandula, who went to America from Delhi to study. The city of Seattle has agreed to give compensation of 29 million dollars i.e. about Rs 262 crore to his family. The settlement was filed last Friday in King County Superior Court. Jhanvi Kandula was pursuing her Masters in Information Systems at the Seattle campus of Northeastern University.

When and how did the accident happen?

Jhanvi Kandula was crossing the road in January 2023. Then a speeding police officer Kevin Dave hit him with his car. The officer was driving at 74 mph (119 kph) in a 25 mph (40 kph) zone. He had both emergency lights and sirens on because he was going to a drug overdose call. The collision was so strong that Jhanvi died.

Body camera recording creates uproar

After the accident, the body camera recording of another officer, Daniel Orderer, went viral. In it, he was laughingly saying that Jhanvi’s life had limited value and the city should just write a cheque. Hearing this, there was a lot of anger among the people. Diplomats from India demanded an investigation. The city’s civilian watchdog said that these remarks tarnish the image of the police department and break public trust. The orderer was later fired from his job. He’s suing the city for wrongful dismissal.

What action was taken against the police officer?

Driving officer Kevin Dave was also fired. He was fined $5,000 for careless driving. King County prosecutors did not file any felony charges against him because it could not be proven that he knowingly disregarded safety.

Settlement details

• Total compensation: $29 million (about Rs 262 crore)
• Of this, $20 million will be covered by the city’s insurance company.
• The remaining amount will be given from the city budget.
• City Attorney Erica Evans said that Jhanvi Kandula’s death was heartbreaking. This financial settlement is an attempt to provide some degree of justice and closure to the family. Jhanvi’s life mattered to her family, friends and our community.

Who was Jhanvi?

Jhanvi Kandula was pursuing her Masters in Information Systems at the Seattle campus of Northeastern University. She was dreaming of completing her studies. There was a lot of grief among his family and friends after the accident. The accident sparked a debate across America on the safety of Indian students.

What do the family and lawyers say?

The lawyers of Jhanvi’s family did not immediately give any statement, but this settlement has brought some relief for them. This case shows how important is the safety of Indian students studying abroad. Jhanvi’s death has raised many questions.