22-Year-Old Indian International Student Tragically Killed by Falling Tree in British Columbia

A late-night bonfire turned into a devastating tragedy when 22-year-old Indian international student Rittika Rajput lost her life after being struck by a falling tree near James Lake, Kelowna, British Columbia. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, leaving her family and friends in shock and sparking a community-driven effort to repatriate her body to India.

Rajput, who had come to Canada to pursue her dreams of a brighter future, was spending the evening with a friend when sudden winds caused a tree to crack and collapse. According to Amarjit Lalli, a family friend, the group was startled by the noise and began running to safety. “The girls kind of got up and started running. One went one way, and, unfortunately, Rittika went the wrong way, and the tree ended up on top,” Lalli told CBC’s Radio West.

Rajput had been living in Kelowna while studying hospitality management through online courses at a B.C. college. Her education was funded by her mother, Kiran Rajput, a seamstress in India, who had taken out a substantial loan to ensure her daughter could build a better future abroad.

“She was a kind-hearted, hardworking young woman, deeply loved by her family and friends,” reads a message on a GoFundMe campaign launched to support her family. The fundraiser aims to cover the costs of repatriating her body to India, settling her educational debts, and managing legal expenses.

Lalli, who has become a spokesperson for Rajput’s family, visited James Lake after the incident and described the scene. He noted the shattered remains of a picnic bench and the fallen tree, evidence of the tragic accident. “They were just having a bonfire and enjoying the back country. It’s something so many of us do,” he remarked.

The family is struggling to come to terms with the loss. “Her mother hasn’t fully accepted it yet. They just want her body back in India so they can say their final goodbyes,” Lalli shared, highlighting the urgency of the repatriation efforts.The RCMP, who responded to the scene shortly before 3 a.m., confirmed the incident was non-suspicious. Meanwhile, the B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the circumstances of the accident. Kelowna’s Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team was initially dispatched but stood down en route after the situation was assessed.