The bodies of four Indian students, who drowned in Russia’s St Petersburg city have been recovered. The bodies will be flown back to India. One student was recovered during the incident, and authorities were in touch with the local officials for the repatriation of their mortal remains, said the officials.
The four students from Maharashtra – Harshal Anantrao Desale, Jishan Ashpak Pinjari, Jia Firoj Pinjari and Malik Gulamgous Mohammad Yakub, were studying at the Novgorod State University in Veliky Novgorod city. Local emergency services had launched a search operation for the recovery of their bodies.
“While two bodies were found within the first two days of the June 4 incident, Russian officials said two more were recovered this morning,” Jalgaon district collector Ayush Prasad said. The bodies are being flown to Mumbai and will be later taken to the students’ native places in Jalgaon district, the official said. Another student, Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane, survived in the incident.
The students were on a walk along the Volkhov River when they entered the waters, a university official had said. Jishan and Jia hailed from Amalner in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. Harshal Desale belonged to Bhadgaon, also in the Jalgaon district.
Jishan was on a video call with his parents when he and three others drowned, a family member said. “When they entered the Volkhov river, Jishan made a video call to his family. His father and other family members were pleading with Jishan and the others to come out of the waters when a strong wave swept them away,” a family member told local media.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates