Woman who died in Johnson County flash flood was mother, dentist, family says
A woman who died in a flash flood in Johnson County was “a loving mother and an affectionate grandmother”, and a dentist from India, according to an obituary written by her family.
Anupama Vaidya, 62, is believed to have drowned on Monday while walking the trail along Negro Creek near West 155th Street and Nall Avenue, according to Overland Park police spokesperson Steve Lacy.
Vaidya left for a daily walk on the trail around 7:30 a.m. Monday, Lacy said. Vaidya’s daughter called police about 9:40 a.m. to report her missing when she didn’t return home, Lacy said. Overland Park firefighters responded to a water rescue around 11 a.m., where it was apparent that Vaidya was dead, according to Overland Park Fire Department spokesperson Jason Rhodes.
In her obituary, the mother is described as a caring woman who was loved by everyone she met.
“Her kind smile and soft manners left an indelible impression on people in her life, near and far,” the obituary stated.
Vaidya was born in India, in the city of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. After graduating from dental school in Mumbai, Vaidya married her “college sweetheart”, Aniruddha Vaidya, who was also a dentist, and the two served thousands of people in rural Rahuri, in Maharashtra, India, according to the obituary.
“The husband-wife duo dedicated their entire lives serving the poor and the needy,” the obituary stated. “She touched numerous lives through her and her husband’s dental practice.”
The family is currently accepting donations on GoFundMe, where funds will be sent to Vaidya’s daughter and son-in-law. Inspired by her mother, Vaidya’s daughter, Aditi Indurkar, is a full-time student at the UMKC School of Dentistry, according to the fundraiser.
Indurkar has two children, who Vaidya was a grandmother to.
Vaidya’s funeral was on Wednesday morning in Shawnee.
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 12:12 PM.
