A first-year Nepali student was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, India, on Thursday evening. The incident occurred just two and a half months after a similar tragedy involving another Nepali student. According to the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, the latest victim is a BTech student from Birgunj. The body was discovered inside a locked room around 8:00 p.m. Preliminary reports suggest suicide, but investigations are ongoing.
Second Tragic Death Shocks Nepali Community
The student, whose name has not been officially released, was living on the fourth floor of a girls’ hostel on the KIIT campus. When she did not respond during routine attendance at 7:00 p.m., hostel staff raised the alarm. Police arrived shortly after and found the door locked from inside. They broke in and recovered the body.
According to Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, no suicide note was found in the room. “We are still looking into the matter,” Singh told local media. “A case of unnatural death has been registered, and forensic teams are collecting evidence.”
Embassy Responds to the Incident
Surendra Thapa, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, confirmed the news and said that they were in close contact with Indian officials.
“The student is from Birgunj. We were informed shortly after the incident,” Thapa told The Kathmandu Post. “The local police will wait for the girl’s parents to arrive before performing the postmortem.”
Nepali Ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma, also reached out to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the Odisha state government, and the KIIT administration.
“We are working with all parties involved to ensure a fair and transparent investigation,” a source at the embassy added.
University Yet to Release Official Statement
As of Friday morning, the KIIT administration had not issued any public statement. The university remains under pressure after a previous case involving another Nepali student.
On February 16, Prakriti Lamsal, also a student at KIIT, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. At the time, reports suggested she had died by suicide after facing harassment from a classmate. The Odisha government formed a committee to investigate her death, but its findings have yet to be made public.
Growing Concerns Over Student Safety
The two incidents have sparked fear and anger among Nepali families with children studying in India.
Many are now questioning the safety of international students at KIIT. Parents are demanding better protection, mental health support, and quicker responses from the university.
“We send our children abroad for a better future, not to lose them like this,” said one parent on social media. “The university must take responsibility.”
The twin tragedies have also led to renewed calls for stronger monitoring systems within hostels. Students at KIIT, especially those from Nepal, are reportedly shaken by the back-to-back deaths.
Historical Pattern of Student Suicides in India
While KIIT has come into focus due to these recent incidents, India has seen a rising number of student suicides in general.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 13,000 student suicides were reported in India in 2021 alone. Pressure from academics, isolation, and mental health issues are major causes.
This context adds urgency to the need for student counseling services and safety protocols on university campuses.
Officials say that more details will become available after the postmortem. The results are expected to offer some clarity about the exact cause of death.
“We are committed to providing updates as soon as we have verified information,” said DCM Thapa. “The safety of our students is a top concern.”
In the meantime, embassy officials are supporting the victim’s family and urging all Nepali students in India to stay connected with local embassy offices.
These are not just numbers — these are lives. The families deserve the truth. Until then, the spotlight remains on KIIT and how it protects the young minds entrusted to its care.
