Community members are rallying around two Adelaide children who have been left orphans after a car crash claimed the lives of their parents while visiting India.
Members of Adelaide's Indian community have raised about $200,000 for the family.
Hemambaradhar "Hems" Peddagamalla and his wife Rama Batthula were killed when their taxi crashed near Hyderabad on Wednesday, on their way to the funeral of Ms Batthula's father.
Their children Bhavagna, 9, and Palvith, 6, were injured in the crash and are still in hospital.
Mr Peddagamalla and Ms Batthula, of Flagstaff Hill, were heavily involved with the Telugu Association of South Australia.
He was especially known for singing in the Telugu language, while she volunteered at the association's language school.
They had lived in Adelaide for more than a decade.
Telugu association president Sivaji Pathuri said the family was a huge part of the local community.
"It's so tragic — you can't imagine," he said.
"Whoever met them once, everyone shed a tear, and we can't even think for three or four days.
"When we were sending an email to members we couldn't find even words to describe it.
"It's so tragic and a huge loss for the community."
Huge response to fundraising effort
He started a GoFundMe page on Thursday to help raise money for Mr Peddagamalla and Ms Batthula's funerals, for the children's medical expenses and to pay off the family's mortgage.
It had already raised $196,000 by this afternoon.
About 2,500 people have contributed.
A doctor who is a member of the association and was already in India is on his way to monitor the children's health.
Mr Pathuri is hopeful the children can come back to Adelaide and be looked after either by community members or by their grandparents, if they can come out from India to look after them.
Mr Pathuri thanked everyone who contributed to the fundraising campaign.
"Everyone chipped in and we are so grateful for them whoever donated so far and it's not going to be possible without all these donations and all the support and community support given back in Adelaide and all over Australia.
"We are so grateful for that.
"Hopefully, we get the kids back home safely."
A memorial service for the couple was held on Sunday at Lockleys Primary School — where the Telugu association's language school is based.
