An 18-year-old girl was found dead in a bush near a canal at School Tole in ward 2 of Karjanha Municipality in Siraha on Monday afternoon.

Police identified her as Avina Baidya of ward 1, daughter of Suryadev Baidya. Police said the body has been sent for a post-mortem.

District Police Office, Siraha said the case appears to be a murder, although the cause will be confirmed only after a full investigation.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramesh Bahadur Pal said the condition of the body suggested she had been killed, but added that details will be known after further inquiry.