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Tragic Death of 20-Year-Old Prakriti Lamsal at KIIT: A Life Full of Promise Cut Short
The sudden and heartbreaking death of 20-year-old Prakriti Lamsal, a student from Kathmandu, Nepal, has left her family and friends devastated. Prakriti, an engineering student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, tragically ended her life on a Sunday evening, just hours after speaking to her mother.
At around 2:51 pm on that Sunday, Prakriti called her mother, assuring her that she would contact her again after returning to her room from the college fest. However, the next call her parents received was from KIIT officials, informing them of her suicide and urging them to come to Bhubaneswar immediately.
Death Investigation
Prakriti’s death has shocked those who knew her. Described by friends and family as an introvert, she was not one to easily open up about her feelings. Despite her quiet nature, she was an outstanding student with aspirations to pursue a successful career in the IT industry, aiming to make her parents proud.
Speaking from outside the AIIMS morgue in Bhubaneswar, where her post-mortem was conducted, her father, Sunil Lamsal, recalled the moment he received the tragic news. “We were speechless. She called her mother at 2:51 pm and was absolutely normal. She said she was going to attend the fest and might not be able to take a call due to network issues. Just a few hours later, we got the call from the university,” Sunil said, his voice filled with disbelief.
In 2022, Sunil and Prakriti had attended a conference organized by KIIT in Kathmandu. The event showcased the university’s offerings, and after learning about the opportunities available, they decided to send Prakriti to pursue her engineering degree there. “She’s gone now, but no other student should face what she went through. Students come from far-off places to study here,” Sunil added, his grief evident.
Prakriti had enrolled in the computer science department alongside her cousin, Anurodh, while another cousin, Siddhant, pursued mechanical engineering at the university. According to family members, Prakriti had shared her experiences of harassment with the university, specifically citing misbehavior from a 21-year-old student from Lucknow, who has since been arrested. However, the family claims the university did not take any substantial action, and the university’s initial response suggested the two students were in a relationship.
Nishan Kanel, a relative who accompanied Sunil to Bhubaneswar, shared that Prakriti had always been introverted. “She was close to my daughter, who is studying in Canada. Though she told my daughter about the harassment, she asked her not to share it with anyone out of fear of embarrassment. I only learned about it after her death,” Nishan said. He added that Prakriti was a “brilliant student” who had high hopes for her future in the IT industry.
One of Prakriti’s batchmates described her as a dedicated student who rarely missed classes. “We met often, but we never knew what she was going through,” the friend said.
Prakriti’s cousin, Siddhant Sigdel, who filed the police complaint, revealed that he didn’t interact with her regularly as they were in different branches, but he stayed updated through Anurodh. “Anurodh and I were roommates, and I often asked him about Prakriti. Both of us had no idea about the mental harassment she was experiencing,” Siddhant told The Indian Express. He added that the accused had been blackmailing her, based on what he learned from close friends of Prakriti.
WANTS JUSTICE FOR PRAKRITI
The tragic incident has sparked protests among Nepalese students, who are demanding justice for Prakriti and better support for students facing harassment at universities. Prakriti’s family hopes that her death will serve as a wake-up call, urging institutions to take stronger action to protect students from such traumatic experiences.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Localtak staff.
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