Bhubaneswar — For the second time in less than three months, tragedy has struck the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha. An 18-year-old Nepalese student was found dead in her hostel room on Thursday evening, raising alarming questions about student safety and mental health support on campus.

The first-year B.Tech student in Computer Science, hailing from Birgunj in Nepal — about 135 km from Kathmandu — was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan in her hostel. Authorities have termed the case a suspected suicide, pending post-mortem results.

Police were alerted around 8 PM, and forensic teams soon arrived at the scene. "We received the information about the student’s death and initiated an investigation. The scientific team has collected evidence, and her family has been informed. The body has been sent to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for autopsy," said Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh.

The death has not only shocked the campus community but also triggered unease and renewed criticism over student welfare practices, especially concerning international students.

A Haunting Déjà Vu

This heartbreaking incident follows the death of another Nepalese student, Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B.Tech student, who was found dead in her hostel room on February 16. Lamsal’s death had stirred protests across the student community, especially after it emerged she had filed a complaint of sexual harassment against a fellow student — a complaint allegedly ignored by university officials.

The lack of immediate institutional action in Lamsal’s case had drawn sharp criticism, culminating in an indictment by the National Human Rights Commission of India, which termed the university’s inaction as "gross negligence." The accused student was arrested only after her death.

Now, with a second young life lost under similar circumstances, the pattern has reignited outrage and concern among students, activists, and diplomatic circles.

Mounting Pressure and Political Response

As news of the latest tragedy spread, calls for accountability grew louder. Student groups, especially those representing the Nepalese diaspora, described the deaths as part of a “disturbing pattern” of institutional apathy.

“This cannot be treated as a coincidence anymore. Two young girls from Nepal, both full of dreams, lost their lives in the same hostel. We demand a high-level, transparent probe,” said Samar Bahadur of the Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) echoed similar sentiments, stating, “If the authorities continue to ignore these deaths, more lives could be at risk. We want the university to come clean and take responsibility.”

Despite growing pressure, KIIT University has not released a formal statement on the incident.

Government and Diplomatic Reaction

Odisha’s Department of Information and Public Relations expressed condolences, adding that the state government was committed to a thorough and impartial investigation.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Arzu Rana Deuba, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that diplomatic efforts were underway to ensure transparency. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has engaged senior officials of the Indian and Odisha governments, as well as the Nepali Embassy in Delhi, to uncover the truth. This is deeply saddening,” she wrote.

She also extended her sympathies to the grieving family and prayed for peace for the departed soul.

Campus in Turmoil

The back-to-back tragedies have left students, especially international ones, on edge. Many gathered late Thursday and early Friday near the hostels, demanding safer living conditions, better mental health resources, and stronger grievance redressal systems. Police presence has been intensified around the campus to maintain calm.

As questions swirl around campus safety, mental health awareness, and administrative accountability, the voices demanding change grow louder — seeking not just justice, but prevention of future tragedies.