A 22-year-old youth from Chandpur village in Jind district, who had gone to Europe on a study visa, reportedly died drowned during a weekend trip with friends. The incident has left his family in deep shock, as they had pinned all their hopes on him.
Moldova Study Visa Student Drowning Incident Details
According to The Tribune, the youth, Nihal Singh, had been pursuing a hotel management course in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, for the past nine months. He also worked part-time as a delivery boy to support himself while studying abroad.
His cousin Praveen Kumar said Nihal drowned on July 31 when the boat in which he and his friends were travelling reportedly began to sink in the Nistru River. The tragedy happened during what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend outing with friends.
Family Struggles to Bring Body Back Home
It took 17 days for his body to be brought back to Chandpur, with the family spending around Rs 10 lakh on the process, Praveen said. The long wait and the heavy financial burden added to the family's grief during an already painful time.
"It took 17 days for his body to be brought back to Chandpur, with the family spending around Rs 10 lakh on the process." — Praveen Kumar, cousin of Nihal Singh
His family had pinned their hopes on Nihal, whose father, Krishan Kumar, died of a heart attack seven years ago. His mother, Sunita Devi, raised him alone after that loss, and the family saw his education abroad as a path to a better future.
Our Take: The Hidden Risks of Studying Abroad
This tragic story reminds us that studying abroad comes with risks that families often do not think about. Nihal went to Moldova to build a career, working part-time as a delivery boy to manage expenses. In our view, this shows how much pressure young students take on when they go overseas — balancing studies, work, and personal safety in unfamiliar places.
The Rs 10 lakh spent to bring his body home is a heavy price for a family that had already lost its father figure. For other families considering study visas for their children, this case is a reminder to ask hard questions about safety, emergency support, and what happens in a crisis far from home. No education is worth a life — and families should know the full picture before sending their children abroad.