IIT Kharagpur authorities have advised students that if they struggle with grief or emotional anguish they “should not hesitate to reach for assistance”.

The email from the dean of students, sent days after a third-year BTech student was found hanging on the campus, says: “The counselling services are available to provide support and we encourage you to take advantage of these resources.”

“We request you to check in on your friends and classmates, offer a listening ear and share your feelings and concerns, with those you trust,” says the email.

The institute has shared a list of emergency contacts of the campus counselling centres, online counselling facilities, a quick response team and other facilities.

The Telegraph reported on Wednesday that IIT Kharagpur would review its mental health programmes, following the death of Devika Pillai, who was found hanging from the terrace of Sarojini Naidu/Indira Gandhi Hall of Residence premises on Monday morning.

IIT director V.K. Tewari, dean of students Bhargav Maitra and other officials held a meeting on Tuesday regarding this.

The email says: “We, the entire IIT Kharagpur community, collectively mourn this unfortunate incident, and look forward to doing our best for preventing such unfortunate happenings in the future.”

An official said the email was sent to “assure students that the institute was by their side”.

Many students are now away from the campus because of the summer vacation.

“The students and their parents might be worried following the death of the student who was pursuing a dual degree in the department of bioscience and biotechnology. In this situation, we are advising students how they could overcome difficulties by reaching out to the facilities and services available on the campus,” the official said.

“We are also suggesting the students to reach out to each other as this could help ventilate stress.”

The email says: “We are stronger together and supporting one another is how we can navigate these difficult times.”

An official of the institute said Devika Pillai, the deceased student, visited counselling centres and they were going through the records to ascertain the reason for her visits.

“It is unfortunate that someone who held the post of general secretary, social and cultural, Sarojini Naidu/Indira Gandhi Hall, ended her life. The institute will develop a detailed advisory next week which seeks to revise the mental health awareness programme,” the official said.

In the email, the students have also been provided the contacts of the senior office bearers of the Technology Students’ Gymkhana (TSG), the students’ body.

“If the students in their moment of distress find it convenient to contact the students’ representatives, they should feel free”,” said an official of the institute.

India’s oldest IIT has witnessed at least five suicides in the past few years.

On October 22, 2022, students told the institute’s director in an overnight open-house session that the authorities had done little to address their mental health concerns.