Parents fear for their daughters after back-to-back student deaths at KIIT University and FM College in Odisha

Three deaths in six months… The tragic death of a 20-year-old girl student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore and the deaths of a couple of students of KIIT University in Bhubaneswar have raised serious campus safety concerns across educational institutions in Odisha.

FM College student succumbed to injuries on Monday after attempting self-immolation (July 12), alleging sexual harassment by a faculty member. The July 14 incident, which followed multiple ignored complaints and alleged institutional apathy, has triggered a statewide bandh call by political parties and ignited a debate over the real extent of student protection mechanisms in place.

The student who had accused the Head of the Education Department, Sameer Ranjan Sahoo, of coercion and sexual harassment, had allegedly warned of institutional inaction and threats to her academic future. Her self-immolation during a campus protest and subsequent death at AIIMS Bhubaneswar has been widely condemned.

The Odisha government has since suspended the principal and arrested the accused teacher, while ordering a high-level inquiry into the college’s handling of the complaint.

But the FM College case is not an isolated incident.

KIIT University: Two Deaths in Three Months

Earlier this year, two young students of KIIT University in Bhubaneswar lost their lives, raising serious questions about mental health care, institutional response, and alleged discrimination on private campuses.

On May 1, Prisha Shah, a first-year Computer Science student, was found hanging in her hostel room. Just months prior, on February 16, Prakriti Lamsal, a third-year B.Tech student from Nepal, also died allegedly by suicide inside her hostel. Preliminary reports linked the death to relationship issues. 

However, the aftermath turned turbulent when several Nepali students accused the university administration of mishandling the crisis and even physically assaulting protesting students. Allegations included being forced to vacate hostels and threats by security staff, leading to widespread condemnation and student unrest.

Despite the gravity of both incidents, critics allege a lack of transparency and urgency in addressing the underlying causes.

Parents Worry, Institutions Struggle with Trust

The spate of incidents in institutions like the KIIT University and Balasore’s FM College has left many parents unnerved. A Cuttack local, whose daughter recently secured a college seat in the city, feels extremely anxious about the safety of his daughter.

“I want my daughter to excel; now, seeing these instances, I cannot help but think about her first day at college. Recent incidents in the state have shaken me to my core. I am constantly worrying about the safety of my child when she is outside of my supervision,” he said.

Another parent from Bhubaneswar said, “Such instances are instilling a sense of fear among us. It’s become a daily reality for us to live in constant fear while our daughters are away from home. We urge the government to take some serious measures and ensure safety on campuses.”

Experts say that whether it is harassment or post-crisis mismanagement, a pattern of silence, delayed action, and reputational concern appears to be common across campuses.

With three deaths involving female students in six months, two at a reputed private university and one in a government college, educationists and activists are now demanding stronger regulatory oversight and a safety audit of Odisha’s campuses.