Russia-Ukraine war claims first Indian student from Karnataka; Efforts on to get his body to State

He became the first Indian student to die in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. A native of Karnataka, Gyanagoudar was in his fourth year of medical degree at Kharkiv Medical University.

The loss of life of a young student from North Karnataka on the Maha Shivaratri day came as a shocker. Many friends and well-wishers crowded at his house at Chalageri village in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri district, offering condolences and extending support.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who also hails from the district, spoke to the victim’s father Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, and shared his condolences. The government, the chief minister said, was making all efforts to bring the student’s mortal remains to the state. The government is in touch with the ministry of external affairs (MEA) as part of this.

A grieving Shekharappa told the chief minister that Naveen would call him three times a day and had called this morning too. A social media handle showed Shekharappa talking to his son on a video call.

According to the officials, Gyanagoudar had stepped out in the morning and was standing in front of a grocery store when he and others in the queue came under attack from the Russian armed men. A Ukrainian official shared the information of his death to a friend of Gyanagoudar.

Several senior leaders, including government ministers, and other prominent citizens expressed their shock.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet, offered his condolences to the family, and urged the government to come up with a strategic plan for safe evacuation of Indians stranded in Ukraine.

“Hope GOI will expedite evacuating students from Ukraine. Deepest condolences to Naveen’s family & friends. I’m sorry we failed you,” tweeted Kannada film star Divya Spandana / Ramya.

According to Manoj Rajan, Karnataka’s nodal officer overseeing evacuation of students from Ukraine, 454 students from Karnataka were stranded in Ukraine and 37 of them have returned as of Monday.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, while confirming the news, said the ministry had been in touch with the family.

Meanwhile, India’s Foreign Secretary is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine, the MEA said.