MEA expresses grief over death of Nepali student at KIIT, assures full support and probe

Bhubaneswar, May 2: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday expressed deep sorrow over the untimely death of Prisha Shah, an 18-year-old Nepali student at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

In an official statement, the MEA conveyed its condolences to Prisha’s family and emphasized that the safety and welfare of international students in India remain a top priority for the government.

The MEA said it has been in continuous contact with the Odisha state authorities since learning of the incident. Odisha Police has launched a detailed investigation, and the state government is reportedly providing all necessary support to the bereaved family.

Highlighting ongoing coordination, the MEA mentioned it is working closely with the Nepal government, Odisha officials, and KIIT management to ensure transparent communication and effective handling of the matter.

Earlier, Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Dr. Shankar Sharma, confirmed on X that the embassy is actively coordinating with Indian authorities for a thorough inquiry. Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Arzu Rana Deuba, also stated that diplomatic channels have been activated to investigate the incident.

Prisha, a first-year B.Tech Computer Science student from Birgunj, Nepal, was found hanging in her hostel room on Thursday evening. She was rushed to a private hospital but was declared brought dead. Her body has been sent to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for post-mortem, pending the arrival of her family.

This tragedy follows a similar case involving another Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, who allegedly died by suicide in February. While initial police findings in Prisha’s case suggest suicide, investigators have ruled out foul play for now.