By Lev D. Zilbermints
Two students, one from Seton Hall University, the other from Montclair State University, are missing after reportedly being swept away by raging floodwaters brought to New Jersey by Hurricane Ida on September 1.
Ayush Rana, a Montclair State University student, and Nidhi Rana, a freshman Seton Hall student, were both swept away by the raging floodwaters, CBS New York reported.
PIX11 reported that a Passaic resident, Lady Torres, said that she felt helpless, crying from her second floor window as she saw the two college students get swept away by the flood of water on Main Avenue during the record downpour on September 1.
According to Torres, “when they (the two students) got to the middle of the street, they got out of the car. And I don’t know if they were trying to take a video but the car just started moving and the current was so strong it just swept everyone away.”
According to PIX11, officials said the students’ car and phones were recovered. However, the two students have not yet been found.
No one really knows where the students are. PIX11 reported that one theory is that the pair was swept out into a nearby storm drain which empties into the Passaic River.
Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said that “we want to be strategic and specific with our efforts because we also want to preserve the lives of our emergency responders, our firefighters, our divers.”
As of 8:38 a.m. Saturday, September 4, dive crews suspended search in Passaic for the missing students, CBS New York reported.
Rana’s father said that his wife was not eating, anxiously awaiting news.
“My wife, she’s not eating nothing. Very dangerous situation at home. Serious matter,” CBS New York reported Rana’s father as saying.
Seton Hall University reaction
Back at Seton Hall University, the student newspaper Setonian reported that Nidhi Rana is a commuter student that participates in the Division of Volunteer Efforts, according to SHU President Joseph E. Nyre. The president announced Rana’s disappearance to SHU community on September 3 in an email.
The university also announced a Student Emergency Fund for those students “who have been impacted by the September 1, 2021 storm.” According to shu.edu website, only one request per student is allowed; only full-time, current students are eligible; students must exhaust their immediate support network of friends and family; and grants cannot exceed $500.
Priority is given to food, medicine and utilities. Tuition and loans, lab fees, university room and board, or other academic expenses and refunds are not covered. Only students, no one else, are eligible for assistance.
Montclair State University reaction
The Montclarion, Montclair State University student newspaper, had no reports of a missing student as of 11:41 p.m. Saturday, September 4. There were reports of flooding in various halls and leaks in dormitories, of classes being cancelled. Students shared experiences of surviving the September 1 downpour and flood. However, nowhere was notice of a missing MSU student published despite coverage by television and Seton Hall’s student newspaper.
MSU officials stated that Ayush Rani was accepted to, but did not start, Montclair State University. Classes at MSU started September 4.
