Tragedy struck IIT Kanpur once again on Thursday, as 28-year-old PhD student Pragati Kharya was found dead in her hostel room. The incident, sadly, marks the fourth student suicide at the prestigious institution within the past year. Kharya, pursuing her doctorate in Earth Sciences, was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan in her room, D-116, in hall number 4.
The news of her death came to light on Thursday afternoon when her fellow hostel residents alerted IIT Kanpur authorities. Subsequently, the police were informed about the incident. In a statement, IIT Kanpur expressed their deep sorrow over Kharya’s passing, calling her a “promising young researcher.”
The institution is now awaiting the results of the police investigation to determine the cause of her death. “A police forensic team has visited the campus to investigate the circumstances of the death,” IIT Kanpur said in a statement.
The police, who received information about the suicide around 12 pm, found the door of Kharya’s room locked from inside. After breaking it down, they discovered her body hanging from the ceiling fan.
A thorough investigation is underway, with the forensic team collecting evidence and examining the scene. A suicide note was recovered from Kharya’s room, in which she reportedly stated that she held nobody responsible for her decision to end her life. A mobile phone was also recovered from the room.
Kharya’s family members have arrived at IIT Kanpur, and her body has been sent for post-mortem. This incident follows a similar tragedy in January, when Priyanka Jaiswal, a 29-year-old chemical engineering PhD student, died by suicide in her room.
Earlier that same month, Vikas Kumar Meena, a 31-year-old M. Tech student, was found hanging from a ceiling fan after reportedly being “temporarily” denied permission to continue his course. In December of last year, Pallavi Chilka, a 34-year-old postdoctoral researcher, also died by suicide, hanging from a ceiling fan in her room.
The series of tragic events at IIT Kanpur has raised serious concerns about the mental well-being of students at the institution and has sparked discussions about the need for greater support and resources for those struggling with mental health issues.
