The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has been rocked by massive protests following the tragic death of a 21-year-old student. The students, grieving the loss of their friend, have accused the administration of displaying a disturbing lack of sensitivity and care towards students and their families. This incident marks the fourth student death at IIT Guwahati this year, raising serious questions about the institution’s ability to adequately address the mental health needs of its student population.
The deceased student, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, was found lifeless in a hostel room. According to a report by NDTV, the protesting students allege that they were initially prevented from breaking open the hostel room door where the body was discovered. One student, quoted in the report, stated that he saw his friend hanging from the fan through the ventilator, but the security guards obstructed their attempts to access the room. “It took almost 30 minutes before the door could be opened,” he lamented, highlighting the callous disregard for the student’s potential survival.
The student further alleged that the security staff barred a nurse from checking the deceased’s pulse. They were also prohibited from notifying the student’s family of the tragic event, and the administration reportedly attempted to delete video evidence from the phones of students present. “We lost him, but the body was not brought down the entire night. It was taken down eight hours after the door was opened,” the student shared, expressing profound disappointment with the handling of the situation.
Adding further fuel to the fire, the report states that the Dean and Chairperson of the Hostel Affairs Board intervened to prevent students from contacting the deceased student’s family and attempted to erase video evidence.
While IIT Guwahati has expressed profound sorrow over the student’s death and extended condolences to his family and friends, they have not yet responded to the serious allegations of negligence and cover-up. This silence has further fueled the students’ anger and frustration, leading to intensified protests demanding accountability and improved mental health support systems.
The incident has cast a dark shadow on the institution, highlighting the urgent need for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of mental health support systems at IIT Guwahati. The students’ demands for a more responsive and compassionate approach to student welfare are a stark reminder of the human cost of inadequate support systems and the importance of prioritizing student well-being.
