Bengaluru: The mortal remains of a medical student from the state, who was killed by Russian shelling in war-torn Ukraine, arrived at the airport on Monday, March 21.

Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagaudar, a final year medical student at Kharkiv National Medical University, died on March 1, in the conflict zone.

Gyanagaudar's family members; Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, among others, were present at the airport to receive the body.

The body was then taken to Gyanagaudar's native place, Chalageri village of Ranebennur taluk in Haveri district.

Stating that it is unfortunate that Gyanagaudar lost his life in the conflict zone, Bommai, speaking to reporters, said, "His mother was crying for the body to come."

"Initially, we were also sceptical about the possibility of bringing the body from the war zone. It was a herculean task, which was successfully conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his huge diplomatic strength and image."

Thanking the Prime Minister, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and officials for bringing thousands of students back home from Ukraine, Bommai said, "This (bringing back the body) was just impossible because most of the time we can't get the bodies of our soldiers from war zones. But here, getting a citizen's body, that too from a third country, is just a miracle."

Gyanagaudar's parents have decided to donate the body to a private hospital in Davangere after paying their last respects.

(PTI)

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