Four Indian medical students drown in Russia, one rescued

MOSCOW: Four Indian students drowned in a river near St. Petersburg in Russia. One body was found. Search for the remaining three persons is going on, officials said.

The deceased were identified as Harshal Anantrao Desale, Jishan Ashpak Pinjari, Jia Firoj Pinjari and Malik Gulamgous Mohammad Yakub, medical students at Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University. Another student, Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane, also fell into the river but was rescued and undergoing medical treatment. Maharashtra's Jalgaon District Collector Ayush Prasad has confirmed the death of the students.

Three of the deceased are from Jalgaon district. They are Harshal Desale, brothers Jishan Ashpak Pinjari and Jia Firoj Pinjari. The Indian Embassy in Russia and the Consulate in St. Petersburg are working with local authorities to recover the bodies and bring them to India as soon as possible.

The four deceased are aged between 18 and 20 years. "The bereaved families have been contacted and assured of all possible help. Proper medical, including psychological treatment, is being provided to the girl student who was saved,"' the Indian Consulate said.

Many students from India are studying MBBS in Russia. No entrance exam, and lower fees compared to Indian private medical colleges are some of the reasons that attract students to Russia.