A Russian mother 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 Nina Kutina, 40, along with her daughters, aged six and four, during a routine patrol at Ramatirtha Hill in Karnataka on July 9, 2023. The cave where they were residing is located in a region known for its tourist attractions but is also prone to landslides.
According to police superintendent M Narayana, Kutina’s business visa, which she obtained upon entering India in 2017, expired in April of the same year. She briefly left India for Nepal in September 2018 before returning, and has since lived off the grid with her daughters. Authorities expressed concern about her ability to remain undetected for such a long period.
In an interview with the ANI news agency, Kutina defended her unconventional lifestyle, emphasizing that her daughters thrived in nature. “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, seated beside her children in a vehicle. She described their life as one filled with activities like swimming in waterfalls and engaging in arts and crafts, asserting that her daughters were “very happy.”
Despite her positive portrayal of their living conditions, police have raised alarms about the dangers of residing in caves, particularly with young children. Narayana noted, “Going into caves is a dangerous thing, and with two children, and to live there for a week or more is astonishing.”
Kutina has been hesitant to provide complete details about her family’s travel documents, raising further concerns among authorities. She did not clarify whether her daughters were born in India or Russia but mentioned the tragic loss of a son in Goa.
Officials are now coordinating plans for the repatriation of Kutina and her daughters, who currently lack valid passports. They have been relocated to a detention facility designed for foreign nationals residing illegally in India. Local authorities aim to ensure that the family returns to Russia in a lawful manner.
The case has drawn attention both locally and internationally, prompting inquiries from various media outlets, including CNN, which has sought comments from the Russian embassy regarding the situation. As authorities navigate the complexities of this unusual case, it highlights both the challenges of immigration regulations and the realities faced by those living outside conventional frameworks.