Four Tamil Nadu medical students in Russia drown in river

The dreams of a unani practitioner from Dharapuram in Tirupur district to make his son a doctor was shattered on Sunday as four medical students from Tamil Nadu drowned in a river in Russia. The family of a sub-inspector from Thalaivasal in Salem district and two other families from Cuddalore and Chennai, too, were devastated by the tragedy.

“It was a big dream for us to see my son as a doctor and a bigger dream for him to become one. From a very young age he wanted to become a doctor,’’ a grieving Mohammed Rafi of Dharapuram said soon after the news of his son Mohamed Ashiq’s death reached him. Along with Ashiq, Manoj Anand, son of Anand, a sub-inspector, R Vignesh from Thittakudi in Cuddalore district, and Stephen from Chennai, all final-year students at Volgagrad State Medical University, drowned in river Volga. “We were expecting him to return in six months after completing his studies,’’ Rafi said. Vignesh’s cousin, A Sarath, said it was his passion for medicine that landed him in Russia.

Weekend trip takes a tragic turn for TN students in Russia; others escape

Sarath said he was particular on pursuing medicine and hence did not mind going to an unfamiliar country. “But we never thought that he will never return,’’ Sarath said.

According to information given to the family of deceased, 10 students had gone to river Volga to spend the weekend and had ventured into the river.

There was a sudden flooding and they were washed away. While six managed to escape, four of them drowned.

“Vignesh attempted to save their friend, but he too was dragged into water,” said Sarath.

“He (Vignesh) spoke to his mother and sister on Saturday, before he ventured out. He used to visit India every year during vacation in July-August. He was keen to return, but his mother insisted him not to travel during Covid times,” said Sarath.

The other victim, M Stephen, is the elder son of Mohankumar and Bakiyam couple living at Otteri in Chennai. He completed Class XII in Doveton school and pursuing medicine abroad was his dream, said a family member.

The bodies of the four youth have been retrieved from the river.

Manoj’s father Anand and his family members met chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami who is at Salem and appealed to him to take steps to bring the bodies. The CM assured him of all necessary support through the Centre to bring the bodies.