Family Appeals to Silicon Valley After Engineer’s Death

The relatives of a young Microsoft engineer who passed away at work are urging tech companies in Silicon Valley to rethink their employee workloads.

Praticpandi, 35 years old and from Menlo Park, California, was reported at Microsoft’s Mountain View office at 7:50 PM on August 19. Around 2 AM, he was found unconscious in the campus courtyard, according to his uncle, Manozipandi.

Initial findings from the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner indicated a likely heart attack, said Satish Chandra, an IT professional and community leader in Santa Clara who is running for city council.

Despite having no known health conditions, Pandi had expressed to his roommates and colleagues that he was feeling overwhelmed, managing several projects simultaneously, Chandra revealed to a local publication.

Pandi’s uncle urged tech firms to monitor employees working late and implement measures to reduce stress.

“This could potentially save lives,” he remarked. “The loss of a loved one brings immense pain to families.”

Police at the scene reported no signs of suspicious activity, and the death was not classified as a criminal investigation, according to the Mountain View Police Department.

Microsoft has not commented on whether an investigation is ongoing.

The Mountain View Police Department did not respond to a request for comments.

Pandi often worked late hours. Described as a dedicated and enthusiastic individual, he enjoyed playing soccer, ping pong, and cricket, according to his uncle.

“He was genuinely a positive person,” his uncle added.

Originally from Indore, India, Pandi moved to the U.S. about a decade ago to pursue a master’s degree at San Jose State University. He previously worked as a software engineer for companies like Apple, Illumina, and Walmart Labs before joining Microsoft in July 2020.

Pandi’s uncle mentioned that the family plans to send his body back to India, where his parents and two sisters reside.