As per the information released by the Ministry of External Affairs of India, four Indian students studying at the Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University located in Veliky Novgorod, Russia were drowned in the Volkhov River near St. Petersburg. The press release said the fifth student was saved and is under medical observation. The ministry said that the Indian consultant in St. Petersburg is in contact with the university and local authorities and providing all possible assistance to them.

“Four Indian students who were studying at the Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University located in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, drowned in an unfortunate incident in the Volkhov River. In the incident, a fifth Indian student was saved from drowning and is presently receiving medical attention”, MEA said.

The External Affairs Ministry offered condolences to the families of the deceased through the press note. “We offer our condolences to the families”, the ministry said.

Reportedly, two dead bodies have been recovered so far from the Volkhov River and the search for the remaining two students is still under operation the ministry told. According to the government source, the five students associated with the incident are from the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra.

The four deceased include Harshal Anantrao Desale, Jishan Ashpak Pinjari, Jia Firoj Pinjari, and Malik Gulamgous Mohammad Yakub. While Nisha Bhupesh Sonawane is the only girl who survived the incident.

As per the Russian media reports the Indian students were taking an evening walk near the Volkhov River and the four got into trouble while saving one of the female students who waded out in the river from the beach.

The Indian Consulate in St. Petersburg is coordinating with local authorities in Veliky Novgorod for the repatriation of the mortal remains. The families have been informed about the unfortunate incident and the consulate is in contact with the families and the district administration in Jalgaon, Maharashtra continuously.