IIIT Allahabad 1st-year BTech student dies by suicide; another succumbs to cardiac arrest

NEW DELHI: 20-year-old student of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), who suffered from hearing impairment, has ended his life by jumping from the fifth floor of his hostel here, police said on Sunday. They said the deceased has been identified as Madala Rahul Chaitanya (20), a first-year B.Tech student. Sharing the information, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Dhoomanganj, Ajendra Yadav said Chaitanya committed suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of the hostel on Saturday night.

On getting information, police had rushed the injured student to the SRN Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Public relations officer of the IIIT Pankaj Mishra told PTI that Chaitanya was admitted to the institute in the deaf-and-mute category. He did not come for classes for the last three months and was depressed due to academic pressure, Mishra said. He said Chaitanya was from Telangana's Nizamabad district and he had informed his mother about the pressure of studies.

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Mishra said at 8 pm on Saturday, another first-year B.Tech student, Katravath Akhil (20), died of cardiac arrest. Akhil, also from Telangana, was suffering from many diseases, he added. Mishra said a three-member inquiry committee has been formed to investigate all aspects of the deaths of the two students and it will submit its report to the IIIT director within a week.

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.