BITS Pilani BTech student dies by suicide on Goa campus; sixth death in two years

PANAJI: A female student allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room on the BITS Pilani campus in South Goa, police said on Monday. Vishnavi Jitesh (20), a third-year engineering student, was found hanging from the ceiling fan with a bedsheet around her neck in her hostel room late on Sunday night, a senior official said.

This is the sixth case of suicide reported on the institute's campus in Vasco in the last two years. The official said that the Verna police received a call around 11.30 pm that a female student had hung herself in the room.

According to the police, the deceased student hailed from Bengaluru and was in the third year of the Electronics and Communications Engineering course at the institute.

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The issue of student suicides at the BITS Pilani campus was raised in the recent winter session of the state assembly, when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed that students had committed suicide due to the pressure of examinations.

The institute is yet to issue a formal statement regarding Sunday's incident.

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.