A Nepalese student, Prisha Shah, was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday evening.
The tragic incident occurred in room number 111 of campus number 4, with authorities suspecting suicide, though the exact cause of death remains unconfirmed.
Prisha, a native of Birgunj, Nepal, was pursuing a B.Tech degree at KIIT. According to police officials, the incident came to light during the hostel’s 7 PM attendance check, when she failed to respond from her locked room. Upon inspection, she was found hanging, prompting an immediate call to the police.
A team led by Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, along with the DCP and a scientific team, launched a detailed investigation. “We are searching her room and speaking to fellow students, who are fully cooperating,” said Singh.
Authorities have notified her parents via the Nepalese embassy, and the post-mortem will be conducted at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar in their presence once they arrive.
This marks the second suicide case involving a Nepalese student at KIIT in just over a year, raising serious concerns and renewed scrutiny over student well-being and campus mental health support. The previous incident in February 2024 led to widespread protests and demands for better institutional response.
