Russian Woman Living Peacefully in Karnataka Cave with Daughters Rescued

Karnataka:

A 40-year-old Russian woman, Nina Kutina, was rescued along with her two young daughters from a secluded forest cave near Gokarna in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district on 11 July. The family had been living in isolation in the Ramatirtha hills of Kumta taluk for nearly two weeks.

Kutina, who was staying with her daughters, Preya (6) and Ama (4), described their life in the cave as peaceful, artistic and in harmony with nature. Speaking to news agency PTI, she said, “We woke up with the sun, swam in rivers and lived in nature. I cooked on a fire or gas cylinder depending on the season and got groceries from a nearby village.” She added, “My life was far from how it was portrayed in the news.”

According to local officials, the family was surviving in a remote and steep terrain covered with dense forest. Kutina had reportedly entered India on a business visa and travelled to Gokarna via Goa. Gokarna, a popular coastal pilgrim town, has long attracted spiritual seekers and alternative travellers. Authorities said she had chosen the hills of Ramatirtha for its isolation and proximity to natural resources.

Police and forest officials, acting on information received from local residents, conducted a rescue operation and safely evacuated the mother and daughters from the cave on Thursday. Officials confirmed that the children were in stable health and showed no immediate signs of distress. The rescue drew wide attention across the region, especially given the remote nature of their chosen shelter.

Kutina, originally from Russia, revealed that she is a mother of four and has spent the past 15 years travelling across nearly 20 countries. Her lifestyle, she said, reflects a deep desire for independence and connection with the natural world. “I’ve lived in different parts of the world. This was just another step in my journey,” she told PTI.

As details emerged, reports surfaced that an Israeli man had reached out to authorities claiming to be the father of the two girls found with Kutina. He expressed his intention to seek custody of the children, saying, “I just want to be a father… I want to meet them.” The matter is currently under review, and no formal custody decision has yet been made.

Officials are now verifying Kutina’s visa documents and legal status in the country. No charges have been filed so far, and authorities have stated that any action would be based on her immigration status and the outcome of the custody inquiry.

The case has sparked conversations about international custody rights, alternative parenting, and foreigners' use of natural areas. The peculiar living circumstances of the family sparked interest and worry among the locals, who first informed the authorities. 

The Russian consulate has been notified, and additional investigations are underway. The authorities continue to prioritize the welfare of the children, working in tandem with child protection services to guarantee their safety.