Two Indian students in UK, one from Mumbai, drown in separate incidents

TOI CORRESPONDENT FROM LONDON: Two Indian male students, one from Mumbai, who were studying at the University of Hertfordshire, died in separate drowning incidents in the UK.

Mahesh Ramesh Khandagle (23), an MSc student of finance and investment banking from Mumbai, drowned on a hiking trip to Wales with friends on the morning of Mar 31. The Queensbury resident was using his new GoPro camera near the Four Waterfalls Walk in the Brecon Beacons, his friends reported.

"He was on a VideoCom (webcam call) with his mother, who warned him not to enter the water. However, he stepped inside to test how deep it was. Before he knew it, he was swept away. Khandagale only knew basic swimming. This is a remote location, so it took time to call emergency services. His body was found around 5-6pm," said Rohit Mahadevu, Indian National Students Association (INSA) UK representative at the university.

Mahadevu is also a member of the National Executive of INSA UK and former student union president of the University of Hertfordshire.

INSA has launched a fundraiser on JustGiving to help repatriate his body to India.

Khandagale was the older son of a single mother in Mumbai, who works at the airport, and has a younger brother aged 12. He held a BCom degree from Mumbai University and worked as night concierge with Blue Orchid Hotels.

"The mother is distraught. She has applied for a visa to come to the UK and collect his body," said Mahadevu.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said, "We received a call for assistance following a report of a person entering the water at Ystradfellte Waterfalls. Following a multi-agency search to locate the individual, a body was sadly recovered from the water. A report has been prepared for HM Coroner."

The other victim, Leela Sai Reddy Mallireddy (24) from Andhra Pradesh, also a student at the University of Hertfordshire, was reported missing at 3pm April 3. Fire and ambulance crews were called to the Embankment, Bedford at 10pm. He was rescued alive from the River Ouse and taken to Bedford Hospital. "He remained on ventilator, but passed away later. His organs are being donated," Mahadevu said. "His father is preparing for the final rites."

INSA UK is coordinating with both the bereaved families, the university, the High Commission of India and funeral directors helping them with the repatriation of the bodies.Get real-time updates and result insights on the CBSE 12 Result 2026.