A Russian woman and her two young daughters were discovered living in a cave in southern India, nearly six years after her travel documents expired. Local authorities found the family on July 9, 2023, during a routine patrol at Ramatirtha Hill, a tourist site in the Karnataka state known for its landslide risks. The woman, identified as Nina Kutina, is 40 years old, while her daughters are aged six and four.
According to police superintendent M Narayana, Kutina’s visa had expired in April 2017. Despite her expired status, she managed to remain in India without alerting local authorities. Police records indicate that she arrived in Goa on a business visa, later leaving for Nepal in September 2018 before returning to India.
In an interview with the ANI News Agency, Kutina defended her unconventional lifestyle. She described their existence in the cave as fulfilling, filled with activities such as swimming in waterfalls, painting, and pottery. “We have big experience to stay in nature, in jungle. We were not dying. I did not bring my daughters to die in jungle,” she stated, sitting beside her daughters in a car. “They did not feel bad. They were very happy.”
Authorities expressed concern over their living conditions, particularly given the risks associated with residing in a cave. Narayana emphasized the dangers of such an environment, especially for children. “Going into caves is a dangerous thing, and with two children, and to live there for a week or more is astonishing,” he remarked.
Kutina was hesitant to provide detailed information about her family’s passports and visas, complicating their situation further. While she mentioned having a son who died in Goa, she did not clarify whether her daughters were born in India or Russia.
Given the circumstances, officials are now taking steps to repatriate Kutina and her daughters to Russia, as they currently lack valid passports. For their safety, the family has been moved to a nearby detention facility designated for foreigners without legal status in India.
As local authorities navigate this unusual case, the involvement of the Russian embassy has been requested for assistance in the repatriation process.
