A Nepali undergraduate student was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar on Thursday evening, marking the second such case involving a Nepali national at the university in under three months.
Police Commissioner S Devdutt Singh confirmed the death and said that initial findings point towards suicide. “The girl was found dead in her hostel room on the campus and is suspected to have died by suicide. The circumstances that may have led her to die by suicide are unclear,” Singh told reporters.
The deceased, who hailed from the Birgunj area of Nepal, was pursuing computer science at KIIT. Police officials reached the campus shortly after being informed and have begun investigations.
The tragedy echoes a similar case from February this year, when another 20-year-old Nepali student, also studying computer science at KIIT, died by suicide.
The earlier incident had spiralled into a major controversy following allegations of blackmail by a fellow student and claims of racial slurs made by certain faculty members against Nepali students.
In that case, the accused, Advik Shrivastava, a third-year B Tech student, was arrested at Bhubaneswar airport while allegedly attempting to flee. The university drew sharp criticism for its handling of the situation after it reportedly asked over 1,000 Nepali students to vacate the campus.
The matter led to intervention from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, prompting the university to issue a public apology and attempt damage control.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which conducted an inquiry into the matter, found the university responsible for the events that led to the student's suicide.
The NHRC stated that the victim had been subjected to sexual harassment by the accused and that the inaction of the university’s International Relations Office constituted a violation of her right to equality and dignity, directly contributing to her death.
In response, the Odisha government constituted a high-powered committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to investigate reports of misconduct and alleged use of force by KIIT officials on the evenings of 16 and 17 February. However, the committee is yet to submit its findings.
Thursday’s incident has once again cast a spotlight on campus safety and the treatment of foreign students. While police continue their inquiry, authorities have urged students and parents to await the investigation's outcome before drawing conclusions.
Meanwhile, mental health professionals have emphasised the need for greater institutional support and accessible counselling facilities in universities, particularly for international students facing cultural and academic pressures.
In case you feel distressed, don't hesitate to reach out. You're not alone—help is just a message or call away.
📞 National Helpline (KIRAN): 1800-599-0019 (24x7, toll-free)
📞 Odisha Mental Health Helpline: 1800-345-7152
📞 AASRA (Pan-India): +91-9820466726
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