This is not an easy article to write. And if you’re a parent who has sent your child to study in the UK, or a student who has recently arrived here, it may not be easy to read either. But we feel it needs to be said — clearly, honestly, and with the respect these ... Two Indian Students Lose Their Lives in the UK — A Wake-Up Call for Every Student Going Abroad
This is not an easy article to write. And if you’re a parent who has sent your child to study in the UK, or a student who has recently arrived here, it may not be easy to read either.
But we feel it needs to be said — clearly, honestly, and with the respect these young men and their families deserve.
In the space of just a few days, two Indian students studying at the University of Hertfordshire have lost their lives in separate incidents in England and Wales. Both were young men in their early twenties. Both were far from home, building their futures. And both families are now going through unimaginable grief.
We offer our deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved them.
Mahesh Ramesh Khandagale, 23, was from Mumbai. He was studying for an MSc in Finance and Investment Banking at the University of Hertfordshire — a degree he had worked hard to reach, having completed his BCom from Mumbai University before making the journey to the UK. To support himself, he worked part-time as a night concierge at a hotel in London.
On 31 March, Mahesh went on a hiking trip with friends to the Four Waterfalls Walk in the Brecon Beacons, Wales — a beautiful but remote stretch of countryside. At some point during the walk, he entered the water, reportedly to check its depth. He was swept away almost instantly. He had only basic swimming ability. His mother was on a video call with him just minutes before it happened.
Emergency services were alerted, but the location was remote and the response took time. His body was recovered later that evening.
Mahesh was the eldest son of a single mother who works at an airport in Mumbai. He had a 12-year-old brother at home. He came to the UK with one goal — to build a better life, not just for himself, but for his whole family.
As one of his close friends wrote in tribute: “He was not only dedicated to his studies but also loved sports like football and cricket. His passion for travelling showed his love for life and new experiences. He brought joy and energy wherever he went, and he will always remain in our hearts.”
The Indian National Students Association (INSA) UK has set up an official fundraiser on JustGiving to help cover the costs of repatriating Mahesh’s body back to India, and to support his mother and younger brother during this devastating time.
The target is £20,000. Every single pound matters.
If you can give anything — even £5 — please do. And if you can’t give, please share the link with your community, your family WhatsApp groups, and on social media. It costs nothing to share, and it could make a real difference to a grieving mother trying to bring her son home.
Organised by the Indian National Students Association UK.
Leela Sai Reddy Mallireddy, 24, was from Andhra Pradesh and also a student at the University of Hertfordshire. On 3 April, he was reported missing. Emergency services were called around 3 PM. He was found in the River Ouse at around 10 PM and was taken to Bedford Hospital, where he was placed on a ventilator.
He did not survive.
In a remarkable act of generosity amid devastating grief, his family chose to donate his organs. His father is now making arrangements for the final rites.
We’re an immigration and visa consultancy. We help hundreds of Indian students every year apply for UK student visas, prepare their documents, and begin their journeys here. Many of them are young people leaving India for the first time.
We see the excitement in their messages. We hear the hope in their families’ voices. We know how much rides on these journeys — financially, emotionally, and in terms of the family’s dreams for the future.
That’s exactly why we cannot stay silent when something like this happens.
These incidents are a reminder that coming to the UK to study is not just an academic journey. It is a life experience in a new country, with different geography, different weather, different rivers and landscapes — and different risks that many students from India simply haven’t encountered before.
We are not writing this to frighten anyone. The UK is a safe country and hundreds of thousands of international students study here successfully every year. But there are some things every Indian student should know before and after they arrive.
The UK has waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas that look calm and inviting, especially in spring and summer. But water temperatures here can be dangerously cold even in April and May. Currents in rivers and waterfalls can be far stronger than they appear from the bank. Many of these areas have no lifeguards, no safety ropes, and no immediate emergency access.
If you haven’t grown up swimming in open water, this environment is nothing like a swimming pool. Please treat it with serious caution.
This is not about being overly cautious. Cold water shock is a real physiological response — even experienced swimmers can be incapacitated by it within seconds of entering cold UK water. If you are not a strong, confident open-water swimmer, the risk of entering UK rivers, waterfalls, or the sea is very real — regardless of how shallow the water looks.
When travelling to remote areas — hiking trails, national parks, countryside — always let a friend or family member know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Emergency services can reach you faster when they know where to look.
In the UK, the emergency services number is 999. Save it in your phone. If you’re in a remote area and 999 doesn’t connect, try 112, which works across Europe and can connect even with low signal.
Every UK university has a student welfare team, mental health support, and an international student adviser. These services exist for exactly these situations — not just emergencies, but also for the day-to-day loneliness, pressure, and disorientation that comes with living far from home for the first time. Please don’t feel you need to manage everything alone.
As a UK student visa holder, you have access to the NHS. Register with a local GP as soon as you arrive. This means that if anything happens to you — medically or otherwise — there is a healthcare professional who knows who you are.
If your son or daughter is studying in the UK right now, please have a direct, honest conversation with them about staying safe — not just academically, but physically and emotionally. Talk about water safety. Talk about not going to remote areas alone. Talk about the importance of asking for help when things feel overwhelming.
And please know this: the Indian student community in the UK is a warm, supportive, and close-knit one. Your children are not alone here. The INSA UK, university societies, and Indian community organisations are active across the country and exist to support students in exactly these kinds of situations.
Our thoughts remain with the families of Mahesh Ramesh Khandagale and Leela Sai Reddy Mallireddy, and with all those in the UK and India who are grieving their loss.
Mahesh’s mother is a single parent who sacrificed everything to give her son a chance at a better future. She now faces the heartbreaking task of bringing him home, and the financial burden of doing so from India.
The INSA UK fundraiser has a goal of £20,000. As of the time of writing, the community has already raised over £2,800 — a beautiful show of solidarity. But there is still a long way to go.
Please give what you can. Please share what you can’t.
Share this link on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook — anywhere your community is. Every share could reach someone who wants to help.
