A Russian woman and her two young daughters were discovered living in a cave in the forests of southern India, years after her travel documents had expired. Local authorities located the family on July 9, 2023, during a routine patrol at Ramatirtha Hill, a tourist site in Karnataka known for its landslide risks. The woman, identified as Nina Kutina, aged 40, and her daughters, aged six and four, had been residing in the cave for an extended period, according to police reports.
Kutin’s visa had expired eight years ago, yet she and her daughters managed to remain undetected by authorities. In an interview with the ANI news agency, Kutina expressed her contentment with their unconventional lifestyle, stating that they enjoyed 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 said, while seated with her children in a car. She emphasized that her daughters were “very happy” living in the wilderness.
Kutina explained that their visas had “finished… a short while ago,” adding that her family had lived in four different countries before arriving in India in 2017. She initially entered Goa on a business visa that expired in April 2017 and briefly left for Nepal in September 2018, before returning to India. Police Superintendent M Narayana noted that Kutina was hesitant to provide comprehensive details regarding her and her children’s passports and visas.
Authorities are particularly concerned about the family’s long-term presence in India without proper documentation. Narayana highlighted the risks associated with living in caves, especially for young children. “Going into caves is a dangerous thing, and with two children, and to live there for a week or more is astonishing,” he stated.
Currently, officials are working on repatriating Kutina and her daughters to Russia, as they do not possess valid passports. The family has been relocated to a detention facility designated for foreigners residing illegally in India. Efforts are underway to resolve their situation, with authorities emphasizing the need to follow legal procedures.
CNN has reached out to the Russian embassy for further comments regarding the family’s circumstances. The unfolding situation raises questions about the challenges faced by expatriates in navigating visa regulations and the importance of maintaining legal residency status while abroad.
