Bhandari was a regular face in charity events in Manhattan area.
Rohina Bhandari, an Indian American equity director based in New York, died in a freak accident when she was attacked by a tiger shark during a scuba diving session on a remote Costa Rican island.
According to The New York Daily News, the Indian American woman was part of an 18-member group that went for a diving session off Cocos Island National part in Costa Rica, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the abundant varieties of shark species.
According to reports, the 49-year-old, who is from the southern Karnataka port city of Mangalore, was working as an equity director in New York.
Bhandari graduated with an MSc in finance from George Washington University and secured a Master of Business Management degree from the Asian Institute of Management. She was working as a senior director at WL Ross & Co. LL.
Her LinkedIn profile says “Rohina is a sales/marketing professional with a proven track record in Alternative Investments/Private Equity Sales across Global Markets.”
According to a press release from the Environment Ministry of Costa Rica, Bhandari was attacked by a tiger shark and sustained fatal bites on her legs. She was soon taken out of water but succumbed to her injuries even though park guards and medical personnel tried reviving her.
The diving instructor also reportedly sustained shark bites, but survived the attack. He is currently under medical care and is in a stable condition.
“Upon reaching the surface, the attack on the tourist was already serious,” the ministry said. It added that the boater and other divers tried to distract the creature but it was too late.
Tiger sharks, one of the largest shark species in the world, have powerful jaws and ravenous appetite.
According to the Daily News, Bhandari was a regular face in charity events in Manhattan area.
Condolence messages are pouring in social media with her friends expressing shock in her sudden death.
“Desperately sad to hear of the tragic and untimely passing this week of my dear friend Rohina Bhandari. Always generous and gregarious, she was a mainstay of my social life in NYC a decade ago, visited us in Chile and so kindly lent us her apartment in NYC in July this year, also hosting a party for us. One of a kind. I feel her loss intensely. RIP sweet Rohina,” wrote Jon Benjamin on Facebook.
“RIP Rohina Bhandari you were one of of a kind, You will Be truly missed my friend!,” wrote another Facebook user.