Bhubaneswar, May 3: In a sorrowful turn of events, Nepalese student Prisha Saha’s final rites will be conducted in Puri’s Swargadwar instead of her homeland, Nepal.

Prisha’s mortal remains will not be taken back home, instead, the traditional last rites will be conducted in Puri.

Prisha’s body was transferred to AIIMS after the unfortunate incident, where her family arrived to oversee the post-mortem procedure. Officials including the scientific team, an executive magistrate, the tehsildar, and a delegation from the Commissionerate Police were present at AIIMS to supervise the process.

Following the completion of the autopsy, Prisha’s body will be officially handed over to her family for the final rites. Despite the Nepalese student’s origins, her last rites will take place at Puri’s sacred Swargadwar, a revered site for Hindu cremations.

Authorities have stated that all necessary legal and procedural formalities will be carried out to ensure a smooth transition for the grieving family. The presence of forensic teams and magistrates during the post-mortem underlines the importance of clarity in this sensitive case.

About the Case

Prisha Saha, a Nepali student, was found dead in her hostel room in KIIT on Thursday evening, making it the second case of a student from the neighbouring country found dead in the institute within three months.

Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh on Friday said that following preliminary findings in the case related to the death of the Nepali girl at the KIIT, "Prima facie, it appears to be a suicide case," as she was found hanging in her hostel room.

Singh had informed that a probe on the matter was currently underway. “I have spoken to the Nepali embassy. Police arrangements have been made outside KIIT University, where the situation is normal," Bhubaneswar CP said.

Providing more insights on the matter, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhubaneswar Jagmohan Meena stated the girl was found dead during a routine attendance check on Thursday and was found hanging inside her hostel room.

Earlier this year in February, Prakriti Lamsal, also from Nepal, had committed suicide at the same university.

Recent development

In response to the tragedy, the University Grant Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Nageshwar Rao, to look into the recent alleged suicide deaths at KIIT.

The committee will examine the circumstances surrounding these incidents, ensure compliance with student welfare and safety regulations, and suggest measures to prevent such incidents.

The committee also includes Shashikala Wanjari, Vice-Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), and HCS Rathore, Former Vice Chancellor of Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, as a member and Sunita Siwach, Joint Secretary of UGC as the coordination officer, according to a statement from UGC on Friday.

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