Indian-Origin Student Recovers ‘Miraculously’ from Houston Lightning Strike

A 25-year-old student of Indian descent who was hit by lightning earlier this month and was in critical condition is now off the ventilator and recovering, according to medical professionals. On July 2 in the San Jacinto Monument Park, lightning struck while Susroonya Koduru, a foreign exchange student studying computer technology at the University of Houston, was strolling by a pond with her companions.

According to hospital authorities, she has been removed off the ventilator during the last week and has been “miraculously” breathing on her own. She is doing well without the ventilator, according to the specialists who are keeping an eye on her health, and if her recovery continues, she may not need the ventilator.

According to Koduru’s family members, who were attempting to transport her parents from Hyderabad to Houston, their US visas have been accepted and they should be coming the next week. While waiting for any recovery of brain function, Koduru was placed on ventilator support, had a tracheostomy placed since she was unable to breathe, and a PEG tube was placed to provide nourishment.

The University of Houston had tweeted on July 26 that “our hearts are heavy with concern and compassion for Susroonya Koduru, a University of Houston graduate student, who was struck by lightning earlier this month,” but there had been no updates since then.

The institution also tweeted that it was in constant communication with her family in India and was aware of the tremendous effects of such an unexpected tragedy. The college’s foreign students and scholar services office is aiding her parents with the US visa procedure because they recognize the urgency of the situation, according to a statement from the institution.

Surendra Kumar Kotha, Kuduru’s cousin, had said, “When she got hit by lightning and was thrown into the pond, she went into cardiac arrest for 20 minutes before circulation could be restored.” She then had severe brain injury and fell into a coma.

While waiting for any recovery of brain function, she was unable to breathe on her own and required ventilator assistance with a tracheostomy and a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube to provide nourishment.

The family is requesting money through “GoFundMe” to pay for medical expenses. The family has appealed for support on her page so that she may resume her regular activities.

Kuduru attended the institution as a Masters student in Information Technology before moving to the US to further his education. She was awaiting a chance to intern after almost finishing her coursework.

The National Weather Service estimates that the likelihood of being hit by lightning each year is one in about 1.2 million.

43 lightning-related fatalities have occurred annually on average during the last 30 years. It asserts that 10% of those hit by lightning die, leaving 90% of survivors with varying degrees of impairments.