Jaahnavi Kandula, a student from Andhra Pradesh, lost her life while crossing a street after she was struck by a police patrol car driven by Police Officer Kevin Dave in Seattle, US, last year. Though the irreparable loss cannot be made up for, in July this year, the Seattle Police Department fired its officer Daniel Auderer, who in bodycam footage was heard laughing after the deadly crash.
Similarly, 24-year-old Indian student, Gurvinder Nath, who worked as a food delivery partner in Canada, lost his life last year on July 14, following a violent carjacking, his mother Narinder Devi, unable to bear the loss, committed suicide. His father, Krishna Dev, lives with searing regret about sending his son abroad.
Kandula and Nath are just a few painful picks of the gory ordeal that Indian youths flying abroad for a bright future face. A shocking 633 Indian students studying in 41 countries abroad, lost their lives for various reasons over the past five years including natural causes, accidents and medical conditions, as mentioned by Ministry of External Affairs.
Such incidents of Indian youths losing their lives to violent incidents while studying abroad have sparked concerns among parents. The aftermath of such incidents can also be seen in students planning an academic career abroad in future.
One Indian student died abroad almost every second day in 2023 and 2024
Official data revealed that in 2023 alone, 170 Indian students died in accidents or due to medical causes while this number, so far, is 124 in 2024 brining the average to one Indian student dying abroad almost every second day in 2023 and 2024. And the figures have only increased, shows data registered from 2019 to 2024.
The number of Indian students enrolled at foreign universities in 2024 has surpassed the data of the past six years and doubled since 2019. But, the rise in count of deaths of those pursuing their higher studies abroad is something that needs a second glance.
MEA numbers
As per data provided by Union Ministry of External Affairs under Right To Information (RTI) revealed a shocking 28,458 Indians had died abroad in the past three years including 24,278 Indians having died of natural causes, 1,622 in accidents, 686 due to occupational hazards, 1,736 to suicide besides 136 in incidents of violence and murder.
Further, MEA claimed 633 Indian students had died abroad across 41 countries in last five years, the highest number of deaths of 172 reported in Canada. The Indian students died abroad due to several reasons including natural causes, accidents, medical emergencies, etc as per the written reply by the minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.
Countries on top 10 list with maximum deaths of Indian students
As per data provided by MEA, Canada reported a maximum deaths of 172 students in past five years followed by USA reporting the second highest count of 108 deaths in said period while UK had the third highest count of 58 deaths.
Reports revealed, Australia reported 57 deaths followed by Russia (37), Germany (24) while for the seventh highest number of deaths Saudi Arabia, Italy and Ukraine had 18 deaths each besides countries like Kyrgyztan, Georgia and Cyprus had 12 deaths each.
China stood on ninth position on the top 10 list with 8 deaths of Indian students in last five years while Kazakhstan, Armenia and Philippines reported 7 deaths each.
Other countries which reported deaths of Indian students in said period include Qatar (6), France (6), New Zealand (6), Taiwan (4), Netherlands (4), Singapore (3), Spain (3), UAE (3), Egypt (2), Ireland (2), Uzbekistan (2), South Korea (2), Finland (2), Moldova (2) besides one death each reported from Belgium, Gaborone, Pakistan, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Czech Republic, Iran, Hungary, Switzerland, South Africa and Suriname respectively.
Deaths due to attacks on Indian students
A total of 19 Indian students died due to incidents of violent attacks on them in last five years with Canada reporting the maximum count of nine violence deaths followed by six in US besides one each in Australia, UK, China and Kyrgyzstan.
Students count jumps from 6.75 Lakh in 2019 to 13.35 lakh in 2024
Official data based on Indian missions/posts abroad by the ministry of external affairs shows that in 2024, a total of 13.35 lakh students moved abroad for higher studies. In 2019, this number was pegged at 6.75 lakh while in 2023, 13.18 lakh students ventured on foreign land for pursuing higher studies.
Reports revealed, 60,81,577 students stepped on foreign soil between 2019 and 2024 for pursuing higher studies, including 17,86,825 landing in Canada. The US remained second most chosen preference on the minds of Indian students for higher studies with 15,17,547 going there. Australia was reported to be the third most preferred destination for pursuing higher studies by 6,70,875 Indian students.
The number of students going to Canada has increased over the years and remains almost similar in 2023 and 2024 while a dip has been witnessed in count of students preferring US and Australia this year.
In 2024, Canada — with 4.27 lakh Indian students — was the most preferred for higher studies followed by the US at 3.37 lakh and UK at 1.85 lakh.
As on January 01, 2024, MEA stated, the total number of Indian students in foreign universities across the world was estimated to be around 1.33 million.
Countries on top 10 list with maximum deaths of Indian students
| Position | Country | Indian students deaths | Due to attacks |
| 1 | Canada | 172 | 9 |
| 2 | US | 108 | 6 |
| 3 | UK | 58 | 1 |
| 4 | Australia | 57 | 1 |
| 5 | Russia | 37 | 0 |
| 6 | Germany | 24 | 0 |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 18 | 0 |
| 7 | Italy | 18 | 0 |
| 7 | Ukraine | 18 | 0 |
| 8 | Kyrgyzstan | 12 | 1 |
| 8 | Georgia | 12 | 0 |
| 8 | Cyprus | 12 | 0 |
| 9 | China | 8 | 1 |
| 10 | Kazakhstan | 7 | 0 |
| 10 | Armenia | 7 | 0 |
| 10 | Philippines | 7 | 0 |