A GoFundMe has been created to support the family of an international student that was reportedly killed in Kelowna over the weekend.
According to Balwinder (Bob) Heer, creator of the fundraiser, 22-year-old Rittika Rajput was impaled and killed by a falling tree on Saturday, Dec. 7.
The RCMP tells KelownaNow that a fatal incident happened shortly before 3 am on the James Lake Forest Service Road, east of Kelowna and north of Hwy 33.
“A young adult female lost her life from what police are considering a non-suspicious incident,” noted Cpl. Michael Gauthier.
Gauthier did not confirm how the woman was killed and the investigation into her death is now in the hands of the BC Coroners Service.
Heer described Rajput as a “kind-hearted and hard-working young woman” who was a loving daughter and a caring sister to her siblings.
“Coming from a low income family, her mother, Kiran Rajput, worked day and night stitching clothes for people to make their ends meet,” he explained.
“Kiran also took out a loan of thousands of dollars for Rittika to send her to Canada and pay her educational fees. This unforeseen accident has left Rittika’s parents shattered and struggling to cope with this devastating loss.”
According to Heer, the Rajput family’s debt means they do not have the funds to bring Rittika’s body back to India to carry out a funeral based on their customs and wishes.
He hopes the campaign can cover the costs of that, as well as help the family pay off the young woman’s educational debt, legal costs and other unforeseen financial challenges.
“As a community we have the opportunity to come together and support Rittika’s mother in their time of need,” Heer said. “Your generosity, kindness, and prayers will make an immeasurable difference to Rittika’s mother.”
If you would like to contribute to the GoFundMe, which has raised just under $8,000 toward a $50,000 goal as of Monday morning, click this link.
