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Two Indian-origin students die after being swept up by wave in California
The two longtime friends from Fremont were swept into the Pacific Ocean near Bonny Doon Beach.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 16, Jun 2026
- 18:38 EDT
- 86
Representative image / Image - Pixabay
Two Indian-origin students from the Bay Area died after being swept into the sea along the Santa Cruz County coastline last week, authorities said.
According to local reports, the victims were identified as Harshita Nair, 21, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, and Mahial Sran, 20, a student at San Jose State University.
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The incident occurred on June 10 near Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz County. Emergency responders launched a large-scale rescue operation after a witness reported that two women had been swept into the ocean.
Multiple law enforcement and rescue agencies responded to the scene, with eight rescue swimmers entering the water. Both women were rescued alive and transported to hospitals.
Nair died shortly after being rescued, while Sran remained hospitalized in critical condition before succumbing to her injuries on June 13.
The two friends were believed to have been near the "Keyhole," a rocky section between Bonny Doon Beach and Yellow Bank Beach known for rapidly changing ocean conditions, powerful waves and rising tides. Officials said changing tide conditions may have contributed to the tragedy.
Nair and Sran were longtime friends from Fremont, California, and graduated from Washington High School in 2023.
Nair was pursuing a degree in legal studies at UC Berkeley and was expected to graduate in 2027. She was remembered by classmates and university leaders as a dedicated student committed to helping others.
Sran was studying public health at San Jose State University and was remembered by friends and family for her academic achievements and community involvement.
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