Four Indian medical students drown in Volkhov river in Russia
Four Indian students drowned in a river in St Petersburg, Russia, on Friday, with one body recovered and the other three still missing, according to officials.
Harshal Anantrao Desale, Jishan Ashpak Pinjari, Jia Firoj Pinjari, and Malik Gulamgous Mohammad Yakub, all medical students at Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, died. They were walking along the Volkhov River in Veliky Novgorod when they fell into the water, according to the news agency PTI.
One girl student rescued, getting medical treatment
Another student, Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane, slipped into the river but was rescued and is undergoing medical care. Ayush Prasad, the Jalgaon District Collector, confirmed the fatalities to news agency ANI.
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Three of them, siblings Jia, Jishan, and Harshal Desale, were from Jalgaon district in Maharashtra. At the time of the accident, Jishan was on a video call with his parents, a family member told PTI.
“The students were taking a walk near the city’s beach along the Volkhov river, in the evening, during their study-free time. The tragedy was accidental and unexpected. Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane survived. Now she is under the care of medical staff,” a university official said.
According to local media sources, a female Indian student got into danger after wading out from the beach into the river, and four of her companions attempted to assist her. Three other people drowned in the river while attempting to rescue her.
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Efforts on to repatriate bodies home
The Indian Embassy in Russia and the Consulate in St. Petersburg are working with local authorities to recover the bodies and return them to India as soon as feasible.
“We are working to send the bodies to the relatives as soon as possible,” the Indian Embassy said in a statement. “Proper treatment is also being provided to the student whose life was saved.”
The Consulate in St. Petersburg explained that they are working with authorities in Veliky Novgorod. All four of the deceased were between the ages of 18 and 20.
“The bereaved families have been contacted and assured of all available assistance,” the Consulate stated. “Proper medical, including psychological treatment, is being provided to the girl student who was saved.”
