Search For Bodies Of Indian Students In Russia

Incident Overview

Russian authorities are in search for the bodies of four Indian students who drowned while swimming in a river. The students were identified as Jia Pinjari, Jishan Pinjari, Mohammad Yakub Malik, and Harshal Desalei. A fifth student, Nisha Sonawane, was rescued and is in critical condition.

Identifying the Victims

The four students who drowned were from Maharashtra's Jalgaon district. Jishan and Jia Pinjari were siblings from Amalner, while Harshal Desalei was from Bhadgaon. They were the students of Novgorod State University in Russia.

Details of the Drowning

According to reports, when the students entered the Volkhov River, Jishan video called his family. During the call, his family requested him and the others to come out of the water thus leading to a tragic incident where a strong wave swept them away.

Search Efforts

The Russian Internal Affairs Ministry stated that the search for the bodies had to be suspended until the morning of June 5, 2024. The Russian authorities are continuing to find the missing students.

Indian Embassy Advisory

After this deadly incident the Indian embassy in Russia issued an advisory alerting the Indian students to be extremely careful around water bodies. The embassy also stated that similar drowning incidents have occurred in the past, with four Indian students losing their lives this year alone.

Previous Incidents

The embassy also highlighted that two Indian students in 2023 and six in 2022 had gone through a similar accident of drowning. The embassy has stressed the importance of taking necessary precautions when near beaches, rivers, lakes, ponds, and other water bodies.

A Call for Increased Safety Measures

This tragic incident serves as a reminder for all students to exercise caution and prioritize safety when engaging in activities around water. The Indian community in Russia has been alerted by the embassy to prevent further accidents.

-Prisha Jaiswal