Russia: 4 Indian students died due to drowning in the river, family was on video call at the time of the incident

A large number of Indian students study medicine in Russia. In June last year, two final year MBBS students from Kerala drowned in a lake in Russia. They were students of Smolensk State Medical University. Exactly one year later, four Indian students have died due to drowning in the Volkhov River in Petersburg.

Four Indian medical students have drowned in the Volkhov River in St. Petersburg, Russia. This river flows near Petersburg. There was a strong current in the river at the time of the incident. All four students were from Maharashtra. The students who lost their lives in the incident have been identified as Harshal Anantrao Desale, Zeeshan Ashpak Pinjari, Zia Firoz Pinjari and Malik Ghulam Gaus Mohammad Yakub. All these students were studying at Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University in Veliky Novgorod city. Officials said that a student named Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane has been rescued in the incident.

According to a PTI report, the Ministry of External Affairs has termed the incident of drowning of the students as unfortunate. The Ministry issued a statement saying that 4 Indian students studying at Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University drowned in the Volkhov River in an unfortunate incident. So far, the bodies of two students have been recovered from the river while the search for two is ongoing. Zeeshan and Jiya were siblings.

He jumped into the river to save his friend

According to local media reports, the four students who died had entered the river to save their friend, but they themselves drowned. The age of the students who lost their lives was around 18 to 20 years. Zeeshan and Jiya were residents of Amalner in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra while Harshal was a resident of Bhadgaon in the same district. Regarding the incident, Jalgaon District Magistrate Ayush Prasad said that arrangements are being made to bring the bodies of the students to India.

The embassy is busy in delivering the bodies to the relatives

The Indian Embassy in Moscow has also issued a statement on the incident. The embassy has written on social media that we are trying to deliver the bodies to the relatives as soon as possible. The student whose life has been saved is being given proper treatment. Our condolences to the bereaved families. We are in touch with the local authorities to deliver the bodies to the relatives as soon as possible.

Zeeshan was on a video call with his family

At the same time, a member of Zeeshan's family, who lost his life in the incident, said that when they entered the Volkhov river, Zeeshan was on a video call with his family. During this time, his father and family members were repeatedly asking him to get out of the river, meanwhile a strong wave came and they went into deep water.

A university official said that the students were strolling on the banks of the Volkhov River in their free time after studying in the evening. The accident was sudden and unexpected. Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane survived the incident. She is undergoing treatment in the hospital.