4 students from Maharashtra drown in river in Russia, one rescued: MEA
Russian media reports suggested that the four students drowned trying to save a female student, who waded into the river.
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Local emergency services recovered the bodies of two students from the Volkhov river, while a search is underway for the remaining two, the MEA said. (File Photo)Four medical students from Maharashtra, studying in a university in Russia, drowned in a river near St Petersburg while another student was saved and is undergoing treatment, the External Affairs Ministry said Friday.
The four — Zeeshan Ashfaque Pinjari, his cousin Zia Firoz Pinjari, Harshal Anantrao Desale, and Malik Gulamgous Mohammad Yakub — were studying at Novgorod State University in Veliky Novgorod city. All of them, in the age group of 19-21, were from Jalgaon district.
The student who was saved, Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane, is receiving treatment, the ministry statement said, adding that the four students “drowned in an unfortunate incident in the Volkhov river”.
The Pinjaris, who are cousins and residents of Amalner in Jalgaon district, started their course in Russia in July 2023. Zeeshan is the son of a farmer.
A university official said that the students were taking a walk near the city’s beach along the Volkhov river in the evening when the incident happened.
The students had made a video call to their families from the riverbank shortly before the incident. Family members of the Pinjaris who spoke to the local media said that Zeeshan’s mother, Shamim Panjari, had warned them against wading into the water and had asked him to return home. Zeeshan assured her of his safety and disconnected the call minutes before he was swept away.
The family of Harshal Desale said that the incident had occured on June 5. “We got a call on June 5 that he did not return to the hostel. When he had gone to the river, he had made video call to his parents… We do not know what exactly happened to him there. It was the last call from him. We only came to know when we got a call on June 5. Now it has been two-three days since his body was found. We request the government to expedite the process of sending his body,” Rajendra Desale, uncle of Harshal, told The Indian Express.
He further said that Harshal comes from a middle class family and his father is a farmer who had taken an education loan for Harshal. “Harshal has an elder sister. His father and mother are devasted. They were having many hopes on him as he was the only son and had struggled for funding his education,” Desale said.
“In an unfortunate incident, four students in the 19-21 age group drowned. Arrangements are being made by the consulate for the repatriation of the mortal remains,” stated Jalgaon district collector Ayush Prasad.
“The university informed the parents immediately and is closely working with all respective agencies in Russia,” he said.
Russian media reports suggested that the four students drowned trying to save a female student, who waded into the river.
Local emergency services recovered the bodies of two students from the Volkhov river, while a search is underway for the remaining two, the MEA said.
“Our Consulate in St Petersburg remains in contact with the university and local authorities and is providing all possible assistance,” the MEA said, adding that the consulate is also in touch with the families and the district administration in Jalgaon.
With ENS inputs, Mumbai
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