Indian student in Canada, missing for three days, found dead

An Indian student in Canada’s Ottawa, who had been missing for the past three days, was found dead, the Indian Embassy in Canada confirmed on Tuesday. A massive search effort had been underway since the student, Vanshika, went missing on April 25.

“We are deeply saddened to be informed of the death of Ms. Vanshika, a student from India in Ottawa. The matter has been taken up with concerned authorities and the cause is under investigation as per local police,” the embassy announced.

Vanshika, according to a Facebook post seeking information about her, left her house around 8–9 pm on Friday, April 25, to a rental room and has not returned home since. “Her phone has been switched off, and she missed an important exam today, which is very unusual for her,” the post mentioned.

“Vanshika has been missing since the evening of Friday, April 25th, 2025, after leaving her residence at 7 Majestic Drive around 8-9 PM to view a rental room. Her phone was switched off at approximately 11:40 PM that night, and she missed an important exam the following day- an action completely out of character for her. Despite extensive efforts by her family and friends, there has been no contact or information about her whereabouts,” an appeal by the Hindu Community in Ottava said.

People close to her said the student was usually in regular contact with her family and friends every morning; however, no one has heard from her since April 25.

On Tuesday, the Embassy confirmed her death and stated that the matter has been taken up with the concerned authorities, with the cause currently under investigation by the local police.

Vanshika’s death comes just days after another Indian student in Canada, 21-year-old Harsimrat Randhawa, was killed by a stray bullet while caught in crossfire. She was waiting at a bus stop when a bullet struck her during a shootout between two vehicles.

Earlier this month, another Indian national was fatally stabbed in Rockland, a town near Ottawa. Local police have taken a suspect into custody, but further details about the circumstances of the attack remain unclear.