A third-year BTech student at IIT Kharagpur was found hanging on the Sarojini Naidu/Indira Gandhi Hall of Residence premises on the campus on Monday morning, officials of the institute said.
Devika Pillai was a third-year student of the department of bioscience and biotechnology, the officials said.
She was from Kerala and held the post of general secretary, social and cultural, Sarojini Naidu/Indira Gandhi Hall.
Officials said she was found hanging on the terrace of the hostel.
The institute said in a statement issued on Monday: “Upon discovery of the incident, the campus security and medical teams were immediately alerted. District police authorities have been informed. Her family has also been informed immediately.”
“The police are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Pillai’s death. The institute is fully cooperating with the authorities,” the statement said.
The IIT said it is “committed to the well-being and mental health” of the students.
“We have a range of support services available, including counselling and mental health resources, and we urge students to utilise these services whenever needed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ms Pillai’s family and friends during this time of profound loss,” the statement reads.
An IIT official said they would conduct an inquiry to find out the cause of the death.
“We need to find out whether she had any mental health issues or whether some other reasons were responsible for the death. Her parents have arrived. We will speak to them,” said an IIT official.
This newspaper reported on October 23, 2021, that the IIT Kharagpur authorities had advised teachers to interact with the students frequently, not just about academics but also about theirmental health and general well-being.
The then dean of students, Dhrubajyoti Sen, had issued the advisory on October 22, 2021, after two students committed suicide at their homes a few weeks apart.
Pillai was pursuing a summer internship under a professor in-charge, department of bioscience and biotechnology, the statement said.
The additional superintendent of police, Kharagpur, Sandip Sen said: “We will know the reasons behind the death once the post-mortem report comes. The family has not lodged any complaint.”
