Two Indian students drown while hiking with friends in Scotland

New Delhi: Two students from India died after they were swept in a river while hiking at a popular tourist spot north of Scotland’s Pitlochry town, officials have said. Their bodies were found by rescue personnel further away from the spot where they drowned on Wednesday.

The students have been identified as Jitendranath Karuturi (26) and Chanhakya Bolisetti (22), both residents of Andhra Pradesh and pursuing a Master’s degree at Dundee University in Scotland. A group of friends had gone out hiking to a scenic tourist spot when Karuturi and Bolisetti fell into the river and were swept away due to strong currents, local police said.

Other students from the group alerted the police following which a search and rescue operation was launched and two bodies were recovered near the Linn of Tumme, a spot where two rivers meet, later that night.

Police said no foul play has been found in the drowning of the two Indian students and the bodies will sent to their families in India after a post-mortem examination while the Indian Consulate said they are in touch with the victims’ families to provide further assistance.

“The families of both students have been contacted by the Indian Consulate General, and a consular representative has met a student who resides in the UK. Dundee University has promised to help in every way,” an official said.

The official added that the post-mortem will be carried out on Friday following which the bodies will be sent to India.