Concerned about the safety of Nepalese students at KIIT in Odisha, the Nepal government on Friday initiated diplomatic efforts to ensure a high-level investigation into the death of the 18-year-old student from the Himalayan nation, a day after she was found hanging in the technology institute.

The body of the BTech computer science student, Prisa Sah, was recovered from her hostel room at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) on Thursday evening, police said.

The incident comes barely two-and-a-half months after Prakriti Lamsal, another Nepalese student of the same institute, died by suicide on February 16.

According to officials, there are around 1,000 Nepalese students in KIIT.

“The incident of Prisa Sah, a Nepali student studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha, India, being found dead in her hostel room has left us deeply saddened. I pray for the eternal peace of Prisa’s soul and express my deepest condolences to her family at this sad hour,” Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba said in a post on X.

“Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the incident through high-ranking officials of the Government of India, the Government of Odisha, and the Embassy of Nepal in Delhi,” she added.

A press statement by the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi said: “After receiving information, the embassy, upon direction from the Nepal government, contacted KIIT and asked them to ensure a proper investigation into the incident and safety of Nepalese students on the campus.”

Nepal’s Ambassador Dr. Shankar P. Sharma has requested Odisha Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident, according to an official statement.

The embassy added that it was in touch with Nepalese students, KIIT authorities and both the central and Odisha governments to coordinate efforts and ensure the safety of the country’s students.

“The embassy also called a KIIT representative to the embassy and sought information about the incident,” the statement said, adding that the country’s foreign office is in constant touch with the deceased’s family and expressed condolences over her death.

While the Odisha government described the incident as “unfortunate,” the KIIT in a post on X said: “We deeply mourn the untimely demise of our beloved student, Ms. Prisa Sah. Today, all senior functionaries of KIIT gathered, expressed their heartfelt condolences and stood in solidarity with her family, friends and the student community. May her soul rest in peace.”

“The body of a girl from Nepal has been recovered. It seems that she has died by suicide at the ladies’ hostel of KIIT,” Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh told media sources.

“The deceased’s parents will reach Bhubaneswar on Friday, and after that the post-mortem examination will be conducted,” Singh said, adding that her body has been kept in AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

The police commissioner, who visited the hostel soon after the incident, said an unnatural death (UD) case had been registered.

“The fresh incident took place in the same hostel and the same floor where Prakriti’s body was found,” another officer claimed.

However, police haven’t recovered any suicide note from the spot.

Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said investigation has already started. “Action will be taken only after preliminary investigation,” he said.

State Revenue and Disaster Minister Suresh Pujari termed the incident as unfortunate. “Youngsters are being driven toward suicide, which is a matter of concern. The Odisha government is seriously reviewing the incident,” Pujari said.

The death of the Nepalese student in February had triggered protests after reports suggested that the victim was allegedly blackmailed, and she ended her life for not getting justice from the private university authorities.

There was an outcry on the KIIT campus as the institute authorities, with the help of staffers and security personnel, had allegedly assaulted Nepalese students who demanded justice for the deceased.

The Nepalese students were “forcibly evicted” from the campus and “asked to leave for their country”.

Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had raised the issue at the diplomatic level and urged the central government to ensure justice for students of the country studying at the institute.

The Odisha government had subsequently formed a high-level committee, headed by the additional chief secretary of the Home Department, to probe into the matter. The NHRC also investigated the incident.

At least 10 university employees were arrested on charges of assaulting Nepalese students, and an Indian student was sent to jail for “abetting” the suicide of the girl.

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