Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) is also under growing public scrutiny after back-to-back death of two female Nepalese students within the hostel campus, leading to frantic demands for a fair probe and better safety facilities for foreign students.
The Indian government’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came out with an official statement on Friday in great grief at the loss of first-year B.Tech Computer Science student Prisha Sah from KIIT University. The deplorable occurrence just a couple of weeks following the previous untimely loss of life among another Nepali student has awakened universal anxiety in students, worldwide communities, as well as the Indian and Nepalese authorities.
“We are saddened by the unfortunate death of a Nepali student of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar. We express our sincere condolences to the bereaved family at this time of sorrow,” the MEA said.
The MEA reiterated that it has been in constant touch with the state government of Odisha since the incident was reported. It further stated that the Government of India is committed to the safety and well-being of all international students and is in active coordination with concerned authorities to ensure clarity, accountability, and assistance in this regard.
“The Odisha State Government has given full assistance to the family of the deceased, and a detailed enquiry is ongoing by the Odisha Police,” the MEA further stated. “We are in close touch with the Nepali authorities, the Odisha State Government, and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology management to maintain real-time communication and coordination.”
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology: What is being done by the institute to tackle issues regarding the safety and well-being of its international students?
In the midst of growing apprehension and calls for openness, the Embassy of Nepal has actively intervened by reaching out directly to the institution’s officials, police authorities, and Indian Ministry of External Affairs officials. The Embassy emphasized the requirement of an independent and unbiased investigation into the matter, stating that the security of Nepali students should be made a priority issue.
“The Embassy of Nepal is in constant touch with KIIT students, the Government of India, the Office of the Chief Minister of Odisha, and other concerned authorities,” said an official statement of the Nepal Embassy. The embassy has also been closely consulting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister in Kathmandu.
In addition, the embassy has requested the leadership of the university to offer more specific information and transparency. University representatives were called by the embassy on Friday morning to explain important details of the incident and present the immediate actions being taken.
Concurrently, the embassy has kept in regular touch with the grieving family of Prisha Sah, expressing condolence and providing logistical assistance. “We offer our sincerest condolences to the bereaved family and wish for eternal peace to the departed soul of the late Prisha Sah,” the statement further said.
In response to mounting criticism, the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology had released an elaborate press statement mourning and sympathizing with the family of the deceased. “The KIIT authorities are extremely saddened and dismayed by the tragic and unfortunate suicide of a student on campus,” the statement had said. “It is with sadness of heart that we offer our sincerest condolences on the tragic and premature demise of one of our students from Nepal.”
As per the university, the incident was exposed when hostel personnel found the student in trouble and promptly notified the local police. “She was rushed to KIMS Hospital, where she was pronounced brought dead. The body was then sent to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for more examination,” said the KIIT release.
The government has assured its complete support to law enforcement authorities and has kept the family of the student in the loop throughout. “After hearing the news, top police officials arrived at the scene and oversaw all the procedures with a scientific team and conducted an initial investigation on the spot,” the statement added.
KIIT also expressed its solidarity with the international student community, saying: “We mourn this irreparable loss and stand in solidarity with her family, friends, and the entire Nepali student community during this extremely difficult time.”
Following these incidents, students, especially Nepali students, are said to be facing increased anxiety. Many are now insisting that the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology set up special mental health and counseling support centers specifically for international students, along with thorough safety measures in hostels.
This twin tragedy has brought the issue of ensuring Indian educational institutions, especially institutions that accommodate a large number of foreign students like the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, review their hostel security policies, psychological counseling infrastructure, and disaster response systems.
While pressure mounts on the governments as well as the institution to ensure steps are taken towards preventing such future occurrences and maintaining confidence levels in international students as well as among their families, demands for accountability and justice cannot be wished away.
Further progress in the probe and institutional action waits to be seen as the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology continues to contend with issues regarding the safety, regulation, and support systems offered to its multicultural student population.
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