Tragedy Strikes Twice: Jaahnavi Kandula Father Dies Days Before ₹262Cr Settlement

New Delhi, February 13, 2026: In a heartbreaking turn of events that has left a community in mourning, the family of Jaahnavi Kandula has been struck by a second devastating loss. Kandula Srikanth, the father of the 23-year-old student who was killed by a speeding police vehicle in Seattle in 2023, passed away on February 10, 2026—just two days before the City of Seattle announced a historic $29.01 million (approx. ₹262 crore) settlement.

A Life Consumed by Grief

Kandula Srikanth, a retired police constable from the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, reportedly succumbed to a massive heart attack. According to family members, Srikanth had never recovered from the emotional trauma of his daughter’s sudden and violent death.

“He struggled every day after Jaahnavi’s death,” a relative shared. “The weight of the loss was visible. He had been on long leave and was only recently attempting to return to duty as a head constable. He suffered the attack shortly after boarding an auto-rickshaw to assume his new post.”

His last rites were performed in Adoni on Wednesday, February 11, leaving the family to grapple with a massive financial settlement that serves as a cold reminder of the two lives they have now lost.

The Settlement: A Record Sum for an Irreplaceable Loss

The City of Seattle finalized the $29 million agreement this week to resolve a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family. The settlement is one of the largest in the city’s history, aimed at addressing the negligence that led to the January 2023 tragedy.

• The Incident: Jaahnavi, a Master’s student at Northeastern University, was struck in a crosswalk by Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving at 74 mph (approx. 119 km/h) in a 25-mph zone while responding to an overdose call.
• The Outrage: The case gained international notoriety after bodycam footage surfaced showing another officer, Daniel Auderer, laughing about the accident. In the video, Auderer was heard saying Jaahnavi’s life had “limited value” and suggested the city should “just write a check” for $11,000.
• Accountability: Both officers involved have since been terminated from the Seattle Police Department, though criminal charges were never successfully filed against the driver.

“No Amount Can Bring Her Back”

In a statement released by the family’s legal representatives, the Kandulas expressed that while the settlement reflects the “seriousness of what was lost,” it offers little solace for the void left behind.

“Jaahnavi’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends, and her community. While this resolution provides a sense of closure to the legal battle, no amount of money can return a daughter to her mother or a father to his children.”

Timeline of a Tragedy

The Kandula family, now comprising Jaahnavi’s mother and her younger sister, has requested privacy as they navigate this double bereavement. For many in the Telugu diaspora and across India, the timing of Srikanth’s death serves as a poignant reminder that justice in a courtroom often comes too late to heal the human heart.