Sonu Shrestha, 20, from Ilam, perished in South Korea

Sonu Shrestha, 20, from Mai Municipality-1, Tiltar of Ilam district passed away in South Korea. Shrestha, who went to South Korea on a student visa perished on Sunday (August 18).

Her uncle Home Shrestha told Nepalkhabar that Sonu, a student at the University of Ulsan in South Korea, passed away.

"We received information on Monday that she passed away on Sunday," said Shrestha. The exact cause of her death, however, will be revealed after the postmortem report, said he.

Sonu's postmortem was conducted on Monday itself. However, the report is yet to be handed over to the Embassy by the hospital, according to Hari Khanal, the president of the Ilam-Korea Public Relations Forum.

Khanal said he is making arrangements to send the body back to Nepal.

"The arrangements are being made to send the body back to Nepal," Khanal told Nepalkhabar, "It is likely to cost around Rs 1.2 million. We are raising funds to this effect."

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(The University of Ulsan in South Korea where Sonu used to study)

Her family members have urged the local government to make arrangements to repatriate the body to Nepal. Ram Bahadur Rai, the ward chair of Mai Municipality-1, said he would initiate the necessary processes to bring the body to Nepal from Tuesday.

"We are in contact with the family members," said Rai, "We have told them to apply at the ward office on Tuesday."

Sonu's father passed away in Malaysia three months ago
Sonu had gone to South Korea six months ago on a student visa. Her father Lila Kumar Shrestha had been in Malaysia for foreign employment. Lila Kumar passed away in Malaysia three months ago.

"Her father passed away in Malaysia three months ago. We brought his mortal remains back to Nepal and conducted his funeral rites," Hom Shrestha said sorrowfully, "The family is experiencing one loss after another."

There are three other members in Sonu's family –mother, younger brother, and younger sister. Sonu's elder sister is married.

Pratima, 45, Sonu's mother, is a farmer in the village. Sonu's younger brother studies in Grade 7 while her younger sister is a 12th grader.