A post-mortem report has confirmed that two teenage sisters found dead in Bhaktapur last week died by hanging, police said on Friday, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Menuka Kandel, 17, and Sirjana Kandel, 15, were found dead on July 24 in a makeshift room on the ground floor of a two-storey house in Sintitar, ward 9 of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality.

“The post-mortem report cites hanging as the cause of death,” said Superintendent of Police Dhundiraj Neupane. “However, we are still investigating. The girls’ mobile phones have been sent for digital forensic analysis, which may shed more light on the case.”

The sisters were reportedly discovered hanging from the same rope in a corridor of the rented space.

Originally from ward 8 of Panchapuri Municipality in Surkhet district, the two had been living in Bhaktapur for about two weeks before their deaths. They had arrived in Nepal from Mumbai, India, where their parents had been working for the past five to six years.

Sirjana grew up in Mumbai, while Menuka remained in Surkhet and recently appeared for her Secondary Education Examination (SEE). After attending her uncle’s wedding in Nepal, Menuka reportedly joined her family in Mumbai.

Family members said the girls lost contact on June 27, the same day the SEE results were published. They added that Menuka had received non-graded (NG) results in two subjects.

The funeral rites for the sisters were performed in Kathmandu nine days ago, and the family has since returned to Surkhet.

According to police, the girls had reportedly posted content on Instagram and TikTok late on the night before their deaths.

Police said the case remains under investigation.