In an unusual discovery in southern India, a Russian mother, Nina Kutina, along with her two young daughters, was found residing in a cave in Karnataka. The trio was rescued by police on July 9 during a routine patrol near the Ramteertha hills within the Gokarna forest, a region attracting many tourists.
The 40-year-old mother and her daughters, aged six and five, have reportedly been living in the cave without valid legal documentation to remain in India. Currently, they are housed in a foreign detention center near Bengaluru and are slated for deportation.
In a series of video interviews, Kutina has assured Indian news agency ANI that her family was content in their cave life, insisting that nature promotes good health. However, there is scant information about how they came to inhabit such a precarious location, especially one rife with wild animals and snakes, raising concerns for their safety.
The police investigation revealed details about the mother-daughter trio. Kutina became known to authorities after police spotted colorful clothing drying outside the cave. Upon investigation, they encountered a blonde child, leading them inside where Kutina and her other daughter were located amid sparse belongings—plastic mats, clothing, and groceries, including instant noodles.
Despite the cave's leaking condition and potential hazards, the authorities reported that the family appeared relatively comfortable. Kutina has balked at their efforts to convince her of the dangers, asserting that snakes and animals were friendly, whereas humans were unsafe.
Following their rescue, the family was taken to a local hospital for health checks and was found to be fit. An official from India's Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) identified Kutina as a Russian national who would be repatriated once procedures were finalized. They reached out to the Russian consulate in Chennai, and the BBC has also sought comment from the embassy without a response.
In revealing details about her life, Kutina disclosed that she originally hails from Russia but has lived abroad for 15 years, having traveled to various countries including Costa Rica, Malaysia, and Nepal. Her eldest son tragically died in a road accident in Goa the previous year, and it was revealed that her young daughters' father, Israeli businessman Dror Goldstein, is currently in India. He expressed desire for joint custody of the children and aims to prevent their return to Russia.
Uncertainty lingers over how long Kutina and her daughters have lived in the cave. She claimed they had been there for just a week, after claiming to have previously lived in a cave in Goa. Reports indicate she overstayed her business visa since April 2017 and lost her passport, later found to be expired in her belongings.
While details surrounding their unusual living situation remain murky, Kutina has defended her choice, emphasizing a life in nature over confinement. "We lived in a very good place... we were not dying, and... we made from clay, we painted," she told ANI, arguing that her daughters thrived in what she deemed their beautiful forest home, dismissing concerns about safety. Further investigation into her storyline, lifestyle, and impending deportation continues as authorities strive to unravel this complex case.
