Fourth-year BTech student's body found hanging in IIT-KGP hostel room

Kolkata: A fourth-year student of BTech was found hanging in his hostel room at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur campus on Friday, the fourth unnatural death case at the campus since January this year. Ritam Mondal (21), a student of mechanical engineering, was found hanging in his room at Rajendra Prasad (RP) Hall hostel building on the campus, an institute official told PTI. The student, who hailed from Kolkata, had retired to his room after dinner on Thursday night, and there was no abnormality in his behaviour, one of his hostelmates said.

The IIT KGP official said that, as repeated knocks on his door did not evoke any response, in the morning, police at the outpost on the campus, accompanied by institute security guards, broke open the door at around 12 noon and found him hanging. The student's family has been informed, the official said. The student's death sent shockwaves through the campus. On January 12, third-year electrical engineering student Shaon Malik , was found hanging in his hostel room.

On April 20, final-year student of Ocean Engineering Aniket Walker was found dead in similar conditions. On May 4, third-year B-Tech student Mohammad Asif Qamar was found dead in his hostel room. Apart from installing bar codes on the gates of every hostel room where the helpline number of counselling services can be scanned by a student in emotional stress at any hour, the institute recently launched a 'Campus Mothers' programme — women faculty and staff members act to mentor students emotionally.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.