Tragic Loss at Odisha’s KIIT: Heartfelt Tale of an Introvert’s Unspoken Dreams and Parental Pride

Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old engineering student from Kathmandu, Nepal, tragically ended her life just hours after a phone call with her mother, promising to update her after returning from a college fest at Odisha’s Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). Her parents were later informed by university authorities about her suicide, prompting them to travel urgently to Bhubaneswar.

Prakriti was described by her family as a promising student who excelled academically and aspired to make her parents proud with a career in the IT industry. Friends and family portrayed her as an introvert who rarely opened up about personal matters. Her father, Sunil Lamsal, reflected on their visit to a KIIT-organized conference in Kathmandu, which ultimately influenced their decision to enroll her at the institution.

The university, which hosts around 40,000 students, including a significant number from Nepal, reportedly failed to act on Prakriti’s complaints of harassment by a 21-year-old student from Lucknow, who has since been arrested. Although university officials claimed the two were counseled, Prakriti’s family disputes the nature of their relationship, denying any romantic involvement.

Nishan Kanel, a family friend, revealed that Prakriti had confided in his daughter about the harassment but did not want it publicized due to embarrassment. Her cousin, Siddhant Sigdel, who lodged the police complaint, learned from close friends that the accused was allegedly blackmailing her.

Prakriti’s peers described her as diligent, though unaware of her struggles, highlighting the hidden burden she carried. Her untimely death has sparked protest among Nepalese students and calls for greater support and protection for international students at the university.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/the-life-cut-short-at-odishas-kiit-introvert-who-shared-ordeal-with-few-hoped-to-make-parents-proud-one-day-9843480/
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Publish Date: 2025-02-19 06:35:00