Growing cases of suicide in IITs: IIT Madras student found hanging; 33 IIT students died by suicide in 5 years

Cases of Suicide in educational institutes are becoming a matter of concern. In the latest case, a student was found hanging in a hostel room at the IIT Madras in Chennai on April 21, 2023. The suspected student, who has died by suicide, is reportedly a second-year B Tech student pursuing Chemical Engineering.

This (If police confirm it is suicide), would be the fourth case of suicide in IIT Madras this year if the police confirm the incident. The IIT Madras in a statement, confirmed the death however the reason is still unknown it added.
On April 1, a 32-year-old PhD student of IIT-Madras from West Bengal, died by suicide in his room. In March, a third-year student, who was a resident of Andhra Pradesh, died by suicide in the campus. In February, a research scholar from Maharashtra was found hanging in his room.

“IIM Madras is deeply anguished to convey the untimely passing away of an undergraduate student from the Chemical Engineering Department in the afternoon of April 21, 2023 in his hostel room. The Institute has lost one of its own, and the professional community has lost a good student. The reason for the demise is unknown. Police are investigating. The parents have been informed,” IIT Madras said in a statement.

“The institute expresses its heartfelt condolence and shares the grief of the friends and family of the deceased student. The Institute requests everyone to respect the privacy of the student’s family at this difficult juncture. IIT Madras is taking all possible measures to proactively identify and help students under stress. We will continue to keep strengthening these measures,” it added.

“A total of 33 students died by suicide across the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) since 2018, according to data presented in Rajya Sabha by the Government. In total, the IITs, National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) registered 61 suicide cases. The IITs accounted for over half of the suicides, followed by the NITs (24) and IIMs (4)”, reported the Indian express on April 7, 2023.