Caldwell College Mourns Freshman Who Died While With Family In Nepal

CALDWELL, NJ — A Caldwell University freshman passed away in a "tragic accident" while vacationing with family in Nepal earlier this week, the University announced on its website late Wednesday.

Rabina Shrestha was majoring in computer science and business administration, the school said.

A Nepal news outlet reported on Memorial Day that the student, Rabina Shrestha, 20, was among 22 people who died in a plane crash — including her two parents and her older sister Rojina, 23.

The Himalayan reported that other family members would travel to Nepal to identify the deceased passengers.

"It has been learnt that Roshan Shrestha, who is the son of onboard passenger Ganesh Narayan Shrestha, as soon as the news of the incident broke is in the process of returning to Nepal from the USA," the outlet reported. "The two daughters Rashmi and Rojina used to study in the USA and were visiting Nepal during which the family decided to travel to Pokhara. Later, the family had decided to visit Jomsom from Pokhara."

Caldwell University offered counseling services to students who needed them, and posted the number of the suicide hotline (below).

They said there will be a remembrance at a later date.

"She was looking forward to her sophomore year and to being an Orientation leader this summer," the University wrote. "Our Nepalese students are a special part of the Caldwell University community and we grieve and mourn with Rabina’s family and friends. The campus community will come together for a remembrance of Rabina’s life and prayer at a date and time to be announced.”

The full message is here:

The Caldwell University campus community is grieving and mourning the death of student Rabina Shrestha who died this past weekend in a tragic accident while traveling with her family in Nepal.

In a statement to the Caldwell University community President Matthew Whelan offered his prayers and deepest condolences to Rabina’s classmates, friends, and loved ones. “Rabina was majoring in Computer Science and Business Administration. She was looking forward to her
sophomore year and to being an Orientation leader this summer.

Our Nepalese students are a special part of the Caldwell University community and we grieve and mourn with Rabina’s family and friends. The campus community will come together for a remembrance of Rabina’s life and prayer at a date and time to be announced.

The Counseling Services Office is here to support University students. Counseling Services is located in the Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the Newman Center. Appointments can be made by emailing the office at counseling@caldwell.edu or by calling our main number at 973-618-3307. Counselors are available from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Thursday. After hours hotlines are as follows:

Crisis Textline: Text HOME to 741741
NJ Hopeline: 1-855-654-6735
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK(8255)