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20-year-old IIT Bombay student found dead in his hostel room: Police
No suicide note was found in the room, police said, adding that investigation is underway to find the exact reason
A 20-year-old student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay was found dead in his hostel room on campus in Powai, an officer said, with the police suspecting it to be a case of suicide.
According to police, the second-year student is believed to have died between 5pm and 10.30 pm on Tuesday, although no suicide note was found in his hostel room.
An officer familiar with the case said the student was last seen in class on Tuesday, but did not respond to his parents’ phone calls after 5 pm.
“At 10.30 pm, his parents called him again, but there was no response. This prompted them to call the IIT security officials who visited his room and found it locked from inside,” said an officer from Powai police station.
After the institute authorities informed the police, personnel from the Powai police station broke open the door and found the student dead. The police subsequently informed his parents in Rajasthan and registered an accidental death report under section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
“Investigation is underway to determine the exact reason behind his death and all angles are being probed,” the officer quoted earlier said.
On Wednesday, the student’s body was identified by family members at Rajawadi hospital, where a post mortem was conducted. The body was later flown to Pilani, where the family resides.
Students at the institute raised concerns over accountability, saying this was the second case of alleged suicide by a student this year.
In February, another second-year student was found dead on campus, which prompted the authorities to ramp up counselling and mental health services. Students were informed about one-to-one counselling sessions and other support systems and were encouraged to seek help if they were facing stress or emotional difficulties.
After news of the latest case of alleged suicide emerged on Tuesday, IIT-Bombay director Shireesh Kedare said in an email to students, “I am really disturbed that in spite of strengthening the wellness support system, being pro-active in supporting students through multiple workshops, interactions with alumni and faculty, this unfortunate incident has happened.”
After a student’s death in February 2023, IIT Bombay and the IIT Council had introduced several measures to improve student wellbeing. Wellbeing workshops were made compulsory for first-year undergraduate students and trained senior students were drafted in as peer mentors. Wellness activities such as yoga, meditation, counselling sessions and community events were organised regularly on campus and courses were redesigned to make the transition to IIT easier for new students.
However, student suicides have continued to be reported from IITs across the country. According to data obtained via the Right to Information Act, 65 IIT students died by suicide between 2021 and 2025.
Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.
Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secundrabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000; ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290
