VOIWORLD/OTTAWA
Vanshika Saini, the 21-year-old daughter of a local Punjab-based AAP leader, was found dead in Canada. Vanshika Saini, an Indian student who had been missing for the past three days, was found dead in Canada, the Indian Embassy in Canada confirmed on Tuesday.
“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. The young Indian student’s body was reportedly discovered near a beach in Ottawa.
Vanshika Saini went missing days ago
Last week, the Hindu Community in Ottawa joined the search operation by spreading the word that she even missed an important exam after her phone was found to be switched the say she went missing.
“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 notice read.
Indian politicians speak out
Vanshika is believed to the daughter of Davinder Saini, a Dera Bassi-based Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader from Punjab. MLA Randhawa has since expressed his shock over the devastating news. “We are deeply saddened by Vanshika’s death. She was a topper in her school in Dera Bassi and had been doing well in Canada. Davinder is a close associate and is in-charge of my office. This is a huge loss for us too,” he said, adding that he had informed party ministers, including Raj Kumar Chabbewal and Balbir Singh Seechewal, in an attempt to expedite the process of bringing Vanshika Saini’s body to India.
According to her father, a postmortem examination was conducted. He is believed to have last spoken to the 21-year-old on April 22, as per the Hindustan Times. A Times of India report also stated that Vanshika left her rented accommodation in Canada on April 22. When she did not return, her friends and family tried to contact her, but her mobile phone was switched off.
The news outlet further revealed that Vanshika Saini moved to Canada after finishing her Class 12 studies. She is also believed to have been employed on part-time basis at a call centre. On April 25, she was set to take her IELTS exam.
The news of Saini’s passing comes just days after Harsimrat Randhawa – another Indian student – was killed in Canada as she got caught in a shootout between two vehicles. This makes Vanshika one of at least five Indians to have lost her life in Canada in the last four months.
