By The Sampadak Express
The death of an 18-year-old Nepali student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha has triggered diplomatic concern, with Nepal’s government calling for a thorough investigation into the incident. This marks the second death of a Nepali female student on the university’s campus in less than three months.
The deceased, Prisa Sah, was a first-year B.Tech Computer Science student. She was found hanging in her hostel room on the evening of May 1, according to local police. The Commissioner of Police for Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, S. Dev Dutta Singh, confirmed that hostel authorities discovered the incident after Prisa failed to respond to the routine evening attendance check.”
No suicide note was found in the room. We have registered a case of unnatural death. So far, no allegations have been made against anyone,” said Commissioner Singh. A forensic team has examined the scene, and the postmortem will be conducted in the presence of her parents, who are expected to arrive shortly.
Reacting to the tragedy, Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arzu Rana Deuba, expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Prisa Sah, a Nepali student at KIIT University in Odisha. I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family and pray for her eternal peace,” she posted on social media platform X.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal has initiated diplomatic engagement with Indian authorities at both central and state levels. “Senior officials are coordinating with the Government of India, the Odisha government, and our embassy in New Delhi to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation,” Minister Deuba added.
Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Dr. Shankar P. Sharma, echoed the minister’s sentiments. “We are closely coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Odisha government, local police, and the university to ensure justice,” he stated on X.
This incident has reignited concerns about student safety at KIIT, which had previously faced backlash following the death of another 20-year-old Nepali female student on February 16. That case sparked campus-wide protests, with students alleging harassment and negligence by university authorities. In response, over 500 Nepali students were reportedly evicted from the university premises.
The Odisha government has offered its condolences to the bereaved family and pledged support. “The State Government extends its full support to the family during this tragic time,” read an official statement.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Prisa Sah’s death.
