IIT Delhi final-year engineering physics student dies by suicide in hostel

IIT Delhi final-year engineering physics student dies by suicide in hostel

IIT Delhi director V Ramgopal Rao announced the news and said that investigations are on about reasons behind the death.

IIT Delhi student dies by suicide
Vagisha Kaushik | 

Oct 19, 2021 - 9:42 p.m. 

NEW DELHI: A fourth-year student of Engineering Physics at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Samarpit Sahu, died at his hostel today. IIT Delhi director, V Ramgopal Rao informed students via mail and said “it pains us to inform you that he took his own life”.

The IIT Delhi director said that the student was found by his hostel mates and rushed to AIIMS where he was declared brought dead.

Also Read | ‘It’s a meat-grinder’: Stress and despair at the IITs

Rao further said that they do not know much about the incident at this moment and will inform everyone once they get to know more.

Earlier in June, a mechanical engineering student, Hari Prasath, studying in third year at IIT Delhi died by suicide in his hostel.

Prasath was dealing with depression and was undergoing treatment on the campus. While he was doing well until the second year at the institute, he started struggling with studies thereafter, the letter from IIT Delhi said in June.

Following Prasath's death, some students of the institute issued a statement in which they cited language barrier and cultural isolation to be some of the reasons behind students’ suicide.

Those students had demanded a "fully empowered institute-level commission" including at least 50% members from students to investigate the incident.

Also Read | IITs witness 50 suicides in 5 years; 14 at IIT Guwahati alone

IIT Delhi has lost several students over the past few years to suicide. In November 2019, a first-year student died in hospital after committing suicide on campus.

In December 2019, the education ministry had told Parliament that 50 IIT students had died by suicide over the previous five years.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help, AASRA has a list of resources here: http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html

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IIT Delhi: BTech student’s death on June 1 was by suicide

IIT Delhi: BTech student’s death on June 1 was by suicide

IIT Delhi administration confirmed to students in an email that the third-year BTech student’s death was by suicide.

IIT Delhi: BTech student’s death on June 1 was by suicide

Pritha Roy Choudhury | 

Jun 7, 2021 - 3:23 p.m. IST

NEW DELHI: A third-year student of mechanical engineering at Indian Institute of Technology ( IIT) Delhi, Hari Prasath, died in his hostel on campus on June 1. 

The institute has confirmed in an email to the IIT community that it was death by suicide.

The email from dean students’ welfare, IIT Delhi, sent on June 4 said: "He was an introvert [student], His parents, friends and counsellors have confirmed that he was being treated for depression. A suicide note, handed over to the SHO confirms that this was death by suicide."

“He approached the hostel security guard after midnight, told him that he had poisoned himself and then fell unconscious. He was immediately rushed to the IIT Delhi hospital and from there to AIIMS but we were unable to save him,” said the email.

Prasath was undergoing treatment for depression on the campus. Until the end of the second year, Prasath was doing well at IIT Delhi. After that he began to struggle with studies, the letter said. Prasath had left all his class groups on messaging applications. He had also withdrawn from social media.

No ‘F’ during COVID-19

A section of students from the institute has issued a statement arguing that many reasons must have pushed him to take the drastic step. They statement says language barrier and cultural isolation is one of the major issues on campus. 

“The campus failed to become a place where our friend could feel a sense of belonging and was left with a very small circle of close friends with whom he could communicate,” it said.

The students had demanded a "fully empowered institute-level commission" with at least 50 percent members from students to investigate what happened to Hari Prasath. They demand that reports on past student suicides must be made accessible and all investigations into all suicides be thorough and time-bound.

"The efficacy of counselling services of IIT Delhi should be independently evaluated. Apart from targeted and general counselling sessions for students, the institute should also develop a mandatory sensitisation programme for faculty members," said the statement. They also demanded that "autonomous forums" be established for students from backward communities.

They also demanded a committee be formed to explore why a particular section of students belonging to a particular social and linguistic background remain absent from student clubs and bodies.

The students’ statement said that Prasath consistently received ‘F’ grades over the past and current semester. The students now demand the IITs do not award ‘F’ grade to any student during a pandemic.
‘Suicides can be prevented’

The letter from the institute finally said: “We would like to reiterate that suicides can be prevented. In Hari’s case, in spite of his own efforts (e.g., at seeking treatment on campus) we were unable to save him. But please know that there are other cases, where timely help – from the psychiatrist and counsellors, from friends, family and faculty – has been able to prevent such incidents. In order to prevent such losses in the future, we can all do more. Meanwhile, we hope that those who feel vulnerable will approach our counsellors on campus who are just a call/email away as well as YourDost who also offer chatbox sessions.”

The IITs have lost several students in the past few years. A first-year student of IIT Delhi died in hospital after a suicide bid on campus in 2019.

The IITs also lost a number of students to COVID. In April this year, a PhD student of IIT Delhi died of COVID-19 after going home. Also in April, an IIT Roorkee student in quarantine died after testing negative for the virus. In May, an IIT Kanpur student succumbed to the black fungus, an added complication brought on by COVID-19 treatment.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help, AASRA has a list of resources here: http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html

Write to us at news@careers360.com.

IIT Delhi: Third-year mechanical engineering student dies in hostel,

IIT Delhi: Third-year mechanical engineering student dies in hostel

The student was in B.Tech mechanical engineering. IIT Delhi director V Ramgopal Rao said it is not established yet how he died and investigations are on.

An IIT Delhi mechanical engineering student has died on campus. (Image: IIT Delhi)
Pritha Roy Choudhury 

| Jun 1, 2021 - 4:30 p.m. IST

NEW DELHI: A third-year student of mechanical engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hari Prasath, died at his hostel after midnight, on June 1. IIT Delhi director, V Ramgopal Rao, confirming the death, told Careers360 that “It's still not established how he died. Investigations are on.” Students, however, believe it was suicide.

Other IIT Delhi students, asking not to be named, told Careers360 that he was from Chennai and staying in Satpura hostel on campus. IIT Delhi stopped the return of students to campus in late March due to the rise in cases of COVID-19 in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. It permitted students to go home in mid-April.

Students said Hari Prasath had been a bright student who had begun to struggle with his studies lately and to withdraw from others. He had left all his class groups on messaging applications and social media. He had been saying he “needed a break”. According to them, Rao, however, said: “Right now we can't say suicide. It's a death on the campus.”

'A difficult time'

In an email sent to students late afternoon on Tuesday, IIT Delhi's dean student affairs wrote: "With deep grief and sorrow, this is to inform you all about the sad and sudden demise of our student Mr. Hari Prasath, resident of Satpura Hostel. Last night his health condition suddenly deteriorated and was taken to AIIMS immediately, but unfortunately, he could not survive. His family has been informed about this and will soon be reaching here."

The letter further said: "We are all going through a very difficult time, and we hope that all IIT Delhi community members will do whatever is possible to support each other."

IIT Delhi has lost several students over the past few years. In November 2019, a first year student died in hospital after a suicide bid on campus. 

In December 2019, the education ministry had told Parliament that 50 IIT students had died by suicide over the previous five years and the large number in late 2019, had prompted much debate and discussion.

However, this year, IITs have lost students mainly to COVID-19. In April this year, a PhD student of IIT Delhi died of COVID-19 after going home. Also in April, an IIT Roorkee student in quarantine died after testing negative for the virus. In May, an IIT Kanpur student succumbed to the black fungus, an added complication brought on by COVID-19 treatment.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help, AASRA has a list of resources here: http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html

Write to us at news@careers360.com.