Patna: A third-year civil engineering student from Bihar was found dead in his hostel room at IIT Kharagpur on Sunday, marking the fourth student death under mysterious circumstances at the institute since June 2023.
Mohammad Asif Qamar, 22, was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan in his room at the SDS Block of Madan Mohan Malviya Hall. The door had been locked from inside since Saturday night, prompting concern from classmates when calls went unanswered. After alerting the administration, police were called to the scene and broke open the door. Qamar was rushed to BC Roy Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Qamar hailed from Bihar’s Shoehar district and was in his sixth semester at the prestigious institution. His body was sent to Kharagpur Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem, and his family has been informed. A senior police officer confirmed that investigators had recovered “some clues” and are pursuing the case accordingly.
This incident follows the deaths of three other IIT Kharagpur students in the last year and a half. On April 20, the body of Aniket Walekar, a fourth-year student in Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture, was found in a similar manner. In January, Shaun Malik, a third-year undergraduate student, was also found dead in his hostel room. In June 2023, Devika Pillai, a fourth-year student in Biotechnology, died by suicide.
The recent deaths have once again raised concerns over mental health and student well-being on campus. The institute claims to have 24/7 counselling services and has recently introduced a barcode system on hostel room doors that students can scan to access immediate psychological support. Acting Director Amit Patra said a committee is being formed to investigate the causes of these recurring tragedies and will submit its findings within three days.
“Our students are not just learners, they are our children,” Patra said. “Their well-being, happiness, and academic success are of utmost importance to us.”
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050, Tele Manas – 14416 (available 24×7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline – 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
