Gokarna (Karnataka): A 40-year-old Russian national and her two young daughters were rescued from a cave deep in the forest atop Ramatirtha Hill in Gokarna, where they had been living in isolation, media reports said.

The discovery was made during a routine patrol by local police on July 9, according to an NDTV report.

Inspector Sridhar SR and his team from the Gokarna Police Station were surveying the hill area, known for its landslide risks and dangerous wildlife, when they noticed activity near a cave.

Inside, they found Nina Kutina and her daughters, Prema (6) and Ama (4), living in makeshift conditions, the report said.

Kutina told police she had left Goa and chosen to settle in the forest for spiritual reasons, seeking solitude for meditation and prayer.

Despite her intent, authorities were alarmed by the unsafe surroundings, particularly for young children.

The area had experienced a major landslide in 2024 and is known to be inhabited by venomous snakes and other wild animals.

After counselling her about the risks, the police helped the woman and her children descend the hill.

Honour­ing her request, the family was temporarily shifted to an ashram in Bankikodla village, run by 80-year-old spiritual leader Swami Yogaratna Saraswati.

During questioning, Kutina was hesitant to provide clear information about her travel documents.

After some persuasion by police and welfare officials, she admitted that her passport and visa might have been lost in the cave. A joint operation involving the police and Forest Department eventually recovered her documents, the report said.

Authorities found that she had entered India on a Business Visa, which expired in April 2017.

Although she was granted an exit permit in 2018 and briefly left for Nepal, she re-entered India later that year and had overstayed her permitted duration since.

In view of the visa violation, the woman and her children were shifted to the Women’s Reception Centre in Karwar, run by the Department of Women and Child Development. They are now under protective custody.

Uttara Kannada police have contacted the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru and initiated formal steps for the family's deportation, the report said.

They are expected to be presented before FRRO officials for further action, it added.