Riga/New Delhi: An Indian student from Kerala is reported to have gone missing while going swimming in a canal in the Latvian capital R?ga on July 18, and is feared to have drowned. The Indian Embassy said that it is in regular contact with the Latvian authorities “regarding the unfortunate incident of suspected drowning of the student”.
In a post on X, the Indian Embassy said that it is in touch with the Indian student’s family and is extending all possible help.
“Embassy is in regular contact with Latvian authorities regarding the unfortunate incident of suspected drowning of an Indian student in Riga
“We remain in touch with the family and will continue to extend all possible help.”
The student, Albin Shinto from Kerala, India, was one of five friends who went swimming in the Jugla canal in Riga on July 18 at around 6 pm.
His friends say that Albin got into difficulties and was sinking from view. Two of his friends tried to save him and almost succeed but they, too, got into difficulties. A passing fisherman managed to save the rescuers with his boat but unfortunately Albin was lost beneath the waves, the website said.
Police and rescuers, including a diver, were quickly on the scene and searched for "two to three hours", but were unable to find Albin. They called off the search with night approaching.
However, when the friends asked when the search would be resumed, they claim they were initially told it would resume the next day, but were subsequently told that it would not be until Monday because of limited resources being available to conduct large-scale and lengthy search operations, the website said.
The tight-knit group of Indian students are very distressed by the loss of their friend.
"His parents are crying in India, the Indian embassy is calling the police, but no-one is helping us," said his friend Arhik Haries. "At least we need to get the body to give to his family," he said.
Albin, a student of Novikontas Maritime College in Riga, belonged to Idukki, Kerala.