Kharagpur: Yet another student was found dead in his hostel room at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, on Friday. This is the third student death within the campus of the premier institute in the last few months.
In a statement released by IIT, Kharagpur, the deceased has been identified as Ritam Mondal, a fourth-year undergraduate student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He was found dead in room number 203 at Rajendra Prasad Hall of Residence in the morning.
“Upon receiving the information, the Institute’s security response team acted swiftly and reached the hostel premises. Then, the Institute’s medical team, the director, senior administrative officials, and local police authorities arrived. Immediate communication was also made with the student’s family,” the statement says.
“Having recently returned to campus after the long summer vacation, the student had resumed his classes. As per the records reviewed from the Institute’s SARTH Counselling Centre, there were no prior indicators of mental health concerns. The faculty advisor from the department also mentioned that there were no apparent academic and non-academic issues that caught their attention,” it added.
According to the police, the body was recovered around 11.30 am. Ritam’s family lives in the Regent Park area in Kolkata. The cause of death is not clear and the autopsy report is awaited, an official said.
IIT, Kharagpur said that as part of its continued efforts to support student well-being, the Institute confirms the availability of dedicated mental health and counselling services around the clock.
“Furthermore, IIT Kharagpur is set to launch a new AI-driven mental wellness initiative, SETU, on July 25, 2025, to enhance proactive mental health support for students,” the institute stated.