In a tragic incident, the bodies of four Indian students who drowned in the Volkhov River in Russia have been recovered, according to a senior official from Maharashtra, the home state of the deceased students. The recovery efforts were confirmed on Saturday, with authorities in Russia working to bring closure to this devastating event.
Jalgaon district collector Ayush Prasad provided updates during a press conference, stating that two bodies were initially recovered within two days of the June 4 incident. Subsequently, Russian officials informed that the bodies of the remaining two students were discovered on the morning of the press conference.
The deceased have been identified as Harshal Anantrao Desale, Jishan Aspar Pinjari, Jia Firoj Pinjari, and Malik Gulamgous Mohammad Yakub. They were part of a group of five students from Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, all aged between 18 and 20. Notably, Jishan and Jia were siblings.
The fifth member of the group, Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane, survived the incident and is currently receiving medical care. The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday as the group was taking a walk along the Volkhov River and accidentally entered its waters.
Heartbreakingly, a family member of Jishan and Jia recalled Jishan being on a video call with his parents at the time of the incident. “When they entered the river, Jishan made a video call to his family. His father and other family members were pleading with him and his friends to come out of the waters when a strong wave swept them away,” the family member shared with local media.
The university administration extended its condolences through a message to the Indian envoy to Russia, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of these young lives. Efforts are now underway to transport the bodies back to India, with arrangements being made to ensure they reach their native places in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with water bodies and the importance of safety precautions, especially when visiting unfamiliar environments. The thoughts and prayers of many are with the families and friends of the deceased during this difficult time.
Sources By Agencies
