Four medical students from India have been swept away and drowned in a river near St Petersburg Russia, as reports received by the Indian mission on Friday indicated. The mission also noted that they are in touch with Russian authorities to ensure that the bodies of those killed are returned to their respective families.
It is stated that all four victims were students of the Novgorod State University in Veliky Novgorod at the ages of 18 and 20; two of them were boys and the others were girls. The reports from a news agency suggest that one case involved a female Indian student who was on the beach and attempted to wade through the Volkhov River for a swim but experienced some problems. Her four companions tried to help her swim back, but, unfortunately, three others also died in the attempt to save the lady.
The Russian media reported that there was another boy who was saved by local residents. On X (Twitter), the Indian embassy in Moscow said that measures were being taken to repatriate the remains of the deceased students and that the surviving student was being duly treated at the appropriate healthcare facility.
As for the remains of the deceased, the Embassy said they are trying everything they can to return the bodies to the relatives as soon as possible. The body of the student who survived the tragedy is also being given proper treatment, the Embassy added. It revealed that these students are pursuing medical education at Veliky Novgorod State University and are the consulate general of India in St. Petersburg.
The consulate shared on X, “We join the people of Russia in mourning the loss of their loved ones” which aims to work hand in hand with the authorities of Veliky Novgorod to ensure the swift repatriation of the mortal remains to the families.
“The families of the deceased have been informed and told all possible assistance would be provided,” explained the consulate general.
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