Two bodies that were recovered in New Jersey this week were identified Friday as the missing college students swept away in Hurricane Ida’s flash floods, Passaic City Mayor Hector Lora announced.
Seton Hall students Nidhi Rana, 18, and Ayush Rana, 21, hadn’t been seen since their car was overtaken by floodwaters during the peak of the storm late last Wednesday.
The pair, who were not related and lived in Passaic, were discovered separately in the Passaic River miles from where they went missing. Nidhi Rana was found on Wednesday in Kearny and Ayush Rana was found Thursday in Newark, Lora said during a press briefing.
A state medical examiner in Newark confirmed their identities on Friday.
“These were two remarkably bright young people with an incredible future ahead of them. As a community we have been united in our prayers, in our thoughts and our support for the family throughout this process,” Lora said.
The pair, who were close friends, were crowned king and queen during an outdoor prom the city hosted last spring, the mayor said.
“[They were] both avid tennis players, committed members to our community, involved in clubs in their schools, had remarkable and amazing friends, loving family,” he said.
“I have met with the families of both of the individuals each day… Their families are the most beautiful of people that I’ve ever had the privilege and honor to meet. Their support for one another, their concern, their relationship, it’s just overwhelming to see so much love and concern for one another. The friends were around every single day, taking part in the search efforts and constantly there for the family. It speaks volumes to the spirit and character of Ayush and Nidhi.”
For the last week and a half, search and rescue teams have been using advanced, underwater sonar technology to scour the Passaic River in hopes of recovering those still missing, NBC 4 reported.
Donna Lomagro, 56, was nearly rescued on the night of the flood but the current was too strong and she remains missing, the outlet said.
On Friday, President Biden and FEMA extended the state’s major disaster declaration to Essex, Hudson and Union counties so residents will be able to apply for federal recovery aid.
The floods killed more than 40 people in New York and New Jersey.