Telangana woman missing at Istanbul Airport since June 14, state seeks consulate help
Synopsis
A Telangana woman travelling home from Houston vanished during a transit stop at Istanbul Airport on 14 June — her connecting flight was missed, her phone is off, and neither the airport nor the airline has offered any information. With the state government and a Congress MP now pushing diplomatic channels, the case has escalated to the Ministry of External Affairs and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Key Takeaways
Bokka Rajashree , from Medchal Malkajgiri district, Telangana , went missing at Istanbul Airport on 14 June during a transit stop.
She arrived on Turkish Airlines flight TK-34 from Houston at 4:46 pm but did not board her connecting flight TK-774 to Muscat at 6:30 pm .
Telangana Chief Secretary K.
Ramakrishna Rao formally wrote to the Indian Consulate General in Turkey on 18 June seeking assistance.
Her mother Dudipala Jyothi confirmed Rajashree's phone has been switched off since she boarded the flight in Houston.
Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala (Bhongir) is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs , the Indian Consulate, and Home Minister Amit Shah .
Rajashree had moved to the US in 2022 for an MS degree and had reportedly been dealing with depression after her father's death.
The Telangana government on Thursday, 18 June urged the Indian Consulate General in Turkey to locate Bokka Rajashree, a young woman from Medchal Malkajgiri district who reportedly went missing during a transit stop at Istanbul Airport on 14 June. Rajashree was travelling from Houston, United States, to Hyderabad when she disappeared, and her family has received no information about her whereabouts or luggage since.
What Is Known About Her Travel
Rajashree arrived at Istanbul Airport aboard Turkish Airlines flight TK-34 from Houston, which landed at 4:46 pm on 14 June. She was scheduled to board a connecting Turkish Airlines flight TK-774 to Muscat at 6:30 pm the same day. Her family later discovered she had not boarded the Muscat-bound flight. Her tickets reportedly indicated she had opted for wheelchair assistance. Her mother, Dudipala Jyothi, confirmed that Rajashree's mobile phone has been switched off and that the last contact was a message sent before she boarded the flight in Houston.
State Government's Formal Appeal
Telangana Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao sent a formal communication to the Indian Consulate General in Turkey, requesting it to coordinate with local police, airport authorities, and airline officials to trace Rajashree's whereabouts. The communication included her contact numbers, details of known persons in the US, and family contacts in Telangana. The state government's intervention follows a direct appeal from Rajashree's family, who had approached officials seeking assistance.
Background and Family Concern
According to the Chief Secretary's communication, Rajashree had moved to the United States in 2022 to pursue a Master of Science degree. She has reportedly been dealing with depression since the passing of her father. Her family in Telangana is said to be deeply worried about her safety and security. Neither the airport nor the airline has provided any update on her luggage or current status, according to family members.
Political Intervention
Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala, the Member of Parliament from Bhongir, posted on social media platform X that he is deeply concerned about the case. He stated he has taken up the matter with concerned authorities and is personally coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Consulate General in Istanbul, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ascertain her whereabouts. 'Every possible effort is being made through official and diplomatic channels to gather information regarding her travel status and well-being. I am closely monitoring developments and remain in constant touch with the concerned authorities,' Chamala said.
What Happens Next
The Consulate General has been asked to take immediate steps to liaise with Turkish authorities and the airline. With both state and central-level channels now activated, the case is receiving diplomatic attention. The family continues to await any confirmed update on Rajashree's location or condition.
Point of View
A flag that should trigger additional monitoring. Rajashree's disappearance during a narrow 104-minute transit window, with no luggage update and no airline communication to her family, raises questions about Turkish Airlines' duty-of-care obligations. The fact that a state chief secretary had to personally write to the Consulate General — rather than the airline or airport proactively alerting authorities — points to a systemic failure in passenger-tracking for vulnerable travellers. India's diplomatic missions abroad are increasingly being called upon to fill this gap, a role they were not originally structured to perform at scale.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bokka Rajashree and why is she missing?
Bokka Rajashree is a young woman from Medchal Malkajgiri district in Telangana who went missing at Istanbul Airport on 14 June while transiting from Houston to Hyderabad. She did not board her connecting flight to Muscat, and her phone has been switched off since she last messaged her mother before departing Houston.
What steps has the Telangana government taken?
Telangana Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao formally wrote to the Indian Consulate General in Turkey on 18 June, requesting coordination with local police, airport authorities, and the airline to trace Rajashree. The state government also shared her contact details and those of her family members.
Which flights was Rajashree travelling on?
She arrived at Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK-34 from Houston, which landed at 4:46 pm on 14 June. She was due to board Turkish Airlines flight TK-774 to Muscat at 6:30 pm the same day but did not.
Who else is involved in the search efforts?
Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala from Bhongir has stated he is personally coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Consulate General in Istanbul, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to locate Rajashree and secure assistance for her family.
What is Rajashree's background?
Rajashree moved to the United States in 2022 to pursue a Master of Science degree. According to the Chief Secretary's communication, she has reportedly been dealing with depression following the death of her father.
