Tragedy at KIIT: Nepal Budget Remark Sparks Fury After Nepali Student Death

Bhubaneswar - A dark cloud looms over Odisha’s prestigious Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) as the shocking death of a Nepali student triggers a storm of protests and controversy. Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B.Tech student, was found dead in her hostel room on February 16, in what is suspected to be a case of suicide. But her tragic passing has unveiled deeper issues within the institution.  

Outraged Nepali students staged protests, accusing KIIT of negligence and harassment. The situation took a disgraceful turn when a KIIT staff member reportedly said, “The damages caused by these protests exceed Nepal’s entire national budget.” This insensitive remark intensified the outrage, pushing the university into damage control mode.  

Realizing the gravity of the situation, KIIT issued an apology, calling the comment a “spur-of-the-moment” remark. “We sincerely regret the unfortunate and insensitive statement made during the heat of the moment. It does not reflect the values of KIIT, and we deeply apologize to our Nepali students,” the statement read.  

To pacify the growing unrest, KIIT suspended two senior hostel officials, a senior administrative officer, and dismissed two security staff members. Meanwhile, the Nepali Embassy has intervened, demanding a transparent investigation, while Indian authorities scramble to manage the diplomatic and institutional fallout.  

As protests continue, the world watches: Was Prakriti’s death preventable? Is there systemic discrimination at KIIT? Will this tragedy lead to real change, or be forgotten in the next news cycle?