(image/kiit.ac.in)
Bhubaneswar, Odisha: A Nepalese undergraduate student was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar on Thursday evening. This is the second case of suicide following another Nepalese student, Prakriti Lamsal, at the university within three months.
Hailing from Birgunj, approximately 135km from Kathmandu, the first-year student identified as Prisha Shah (18) was enrolled in the Computer Science B.Tech programme at the university. Her body was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan in her room at QC-4 at one of the institute’s girls’ hostels.
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed its deepest condolences to her family and assured that they were closely coordinating with the Odisha government, KIIT management, and the Nepali authorities.
According to Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh, the matter is being treated as a case of suspected suicide. The body has been sent to AIIMS for the post-mortem. The university officials immediately informed the family of the girl, said the police.
Police and university officials were informed around 8:10 pm, while forensic teams arrived shortly after.
Following the incident, security has been reportedly heightened in and around the university premises amid rising concerns over the safety of international students, especially those from Nepal.
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Within the span of 90 days, this is the second death in similar circumstances since a third-year B.Tech student called Prakriti Lamsal was found dead in her hostel room in KIIT. The 20-year-old was allegedly being blackmailed by a male student, Advik Srivastava, from the same university. According to the students, Advik had been harassing the victim for several months.
Despite reporting the matter to the international relations department of the university, nothing happened, they alleged.
The Nepalese national’s death had triggered widespread protests in the university, particularly among the Nepalese student community against KIIT and founder Achyuta Samanta, former MP and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader.
(This news story may contain content related to suicide and suicidal behaviour. Such topics can be sensitive and may trigger emotional responses. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviours, we urge you to seek help immediately. Contact your local mental health crisis hotline, a mental health professional, or a trusted person in your life.
You may call 14416 or 1-8008914416 for the Tele MANAS service, a comprehensive mental health care service by the Government of India.)
