Tragic Incident Shakes IIT Kharagpur Campus

A 21-year-old third-year mechanical engineering student at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP), Jayveersinh Dodiya from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, was found dead after falling from the eighth-floor terrace of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall of Residence. The incident occurred early on April 18, 2026, marking a heartbreaking addition to a series of student deaths on campus. Local police have registered a case and are investigating, with preliminary indications pointing to suicide, though a full autopsy report is awaited to confirm the cause.

Dodiya, a resident of Nehru Hall, was discovered by fellow students who alerted authorities immediately. The campus, one of India's premier engineering institutions established in 1951, has been gripped by grief as peers, faculty, and administrators mourn the loss. This event has reignited urgent discussions on student well-being amid the intense academic environment of IITs.

Timeline of Recent Campus Tragedies

This death is reported as the eighth unnatural student death at IIT KGP in the past 15 months, underscoring a disturbing pattern. In 2025 alone, the institute witnessed multiple cases, including:

• January 12: Shaon Malik, a third-year electrical engineering student, found hanging in his hostel room.
• April 21: Aniket Walker, a 22-year-old final-year student from Maharashtra, discovered deceased in similar circumstances.
• May 4: Mohammad Asif Qamar, a 22-year-old third-year BTech student from Bihar, found hanging in Madan Mohan Malviya Hall.
• July 18: Ritam Mondal from Kolkata, a dual-degree student, died by suicide.
• September 20: Harsh Kumar Pandey, a PhD scholar in mechanical engineering from Ranchi, found hanging— the fifth suspected suicide that year.

These incidents, primarily involving hanging or falls from heights, have prompted repeated inquiries, but families and students often cite unresolved academic and personal stressors.

The Broader Mental Health Crisis in IITs

IIT Kharagpur's challenges mirror a national crisis in elite engineering colleges. Data from alumni groups and Right to Information (RTI) responses reveal at least 65 student suicides across all 23 IITs from January 2021 to December 2025, with IIT KGP recording the highest at 11. Nationally, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 13,892 student suicides in 2023—a 64.9% rise over the decade—accounting for 8.1% of total suicides in India.

Older IITs like Kharagpur, Kanpur (disproportionately high in recent years), and Madras top the lists, with post-pandemic spikes linked to isolation and heightened competition. PhD scholars face unique pressures from research demands and faculty expectations, while undergraduates grapple with JEE Advanced aftermath.

Root Causes: Academic Pressure and Beyond

Interviews with students, faculty, and experts highlight multifaceted triggers. Intense academic rigor, including relentless exams, low branch change success rates (often below 5%), and fear of failure in a high-stakes environment where IIT admission defines family pride, dominate. One former student shared, "The constant comparison and parental expectations turn dreams into nightmares."

Other factors include homesickness for outstation students (over 90% non-local), social isolation, subtle discrimination based on caste or region, and undiagnosed mental health issues. Endsems (end-semester exams) coincide with several cases, amplifying stress. RTI data shows 54 of 65 IIT victims were male, reflecting gender-specific pressures in STEM fields.

Cultural context in India exacerbates this: Success in IITs symbolizes upward mobility, but the transition from coaching centers to campus life overwhelms many. A Lancet study notes academic stress as a primary driver, with 41.8% of aspirant suicides peaking in 2023.

Student and Family Perspectives

Survivors and families demand accountability. After Ritam Mondal's death, peers protested inadequate counseling. Parents of past victims, like Faizan Ahmed's (2022), alleged ragging and negligence, leading to Supreme Court scrutiny. Current students report overburdened counselors (one per 1,000+ students) and stigma around seeking help.

"We're robots expected to excel without breaking," a third-year anonymous student told media. Faculty acknowledge gaps but cite understaffing. The IIT director previously noted parental pressure as key, urging holistic support.

Institute Responses and New Initiatives

IIT KGP has ramped up efforts. On World Health Day 2026 (April 7), it launched a comprehensive Mental Health & Well-being Policy, including the SETU outreach program with one-on-one therapy, psychiatric care, group sessions, and 24/7 online counseling via YourDOST. An AI-based emotional monitoring tool and anonymous check-ins are planned.

The campus counseling center offers support, but critics argue for proactive measures like mandatory well-being courses, faculty training, and peer networks. Post-2023 government guidelines mandated gatekeepers and anti-ragging cells, yet compliance varies. IIT KGP's well-being page details these resources.

Government and Judicial Interventions

The Supreme Court, alarmed by the "epidemic," formed a National Task Force (NTF) in 2025 on mental health and suicide prevention in higher education. Updates in 2026 emphasize reporting FIRs in unnatural deaths, institutional accountability, and nationwide reforms. Over 57,000 institutes must survey suicides, with IITs under spotlight.

The Ministry of Education convened NTF meetings, pushing for early intervention. Despite this, 40 IIT suicides post-2023 guidelines highlight systemic gaps. NTF website tracks progress.

Expert Insights and Statistics

Psychologists link suicides to untreated depression (prevalent in 30-40% of IITians per surveys) and perfectionism. A 2026 Al Jazeera report notes 160 IIT deaths in 20 years, 69 in last five. NCRB forecasts continued rise without intervention.

Comparisons: NITs report 4 suicides in 3 months (2026); IIMs face similar PhD stress. Global peers like MIT (lower rates) succeed via robust support. Al Jazeera analysis details trends.

Pathways to Prevention: Actionable Solutions

Experts recommend:

• Reducing academic load with pass/fail options.
• 24/7 professional counseling (ratio 1:500).
• Mentorship programs pairing seniors/juniors.
• Wellness curricula integrating yoga, mindfulness.
• Parental sensitization workshops.
• Data-driven monitoring via anonymous apps.

Successful models: IIT Gandhinagar's happiness curriculum lowered stress by 20%. Scaling nationally could save lives.

Photo by Manish Das on Unsplash

Future Outlook for IITs and Indian Higher Education

As IITs expand (new campuses, intakes), prioritizing mental health is vital. With NEP 2020 emphasizing holistic development, reforms must match. Stakeholders—government, institutes, alumni—must collaborate for resilient campuses.

For students: Reach out early; resources exist. For educators: Foster empathy over metrics. India's youth deserve thriving environments, not pressure cookers. Proactive change can transform tragedy into turning point.