Kolkata: A 22-year-old student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur was found dead in his hostel room on Tuesday.
The student, identified as Soham Haldar, was found hanging from the ceiling of his room and was rushed to the institute hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead, officials said.
Before his body was found, Soham had reportedly sent a scheduled message to his family in Barasat that was delivered at 10.45 am. The message, as reported by The Times of India, read: "I am dying, my body will be in the room. I've left the security number. Call them to take my body from the room."
Soham was a dual-degree student in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering and stayed at the Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Hall of Residence on the campus.
Police from Kharagpur Town Police Station have launched an investigation. Preliminary findings suggest it could be a case of suicide, though the exact cause of death will be known after the post-mortem examination.
In a statement, the institute expressed deep grief over the student's death and said a detailed inquiry had been initiated. Authorities have informed the family and are extending all possible assistance, it said.
IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty said the institute would strengthen systems to identify students dealing with stress and depression and ensure follow-up support.
"Haldar's friends, faculty and staffers also could not gauge any stress or anxiety in him. But we need to enable students suffering from anxiety and extreme stress to open up their minds and do everything needed to prevent such incidents," he said.
Investigators are also examining CCTV footage from the hostel premises to reconstruct the events leading up to the incident.
The death comes days after another student, Jaibir Singh Dodia, a 21-year-old third-year Mechanical Engineering student from Ahmedabad, allegedly died after jumping from the eighth floor of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall of Residence on April 18. That case also remains under investigation.
The two back-to-back incidents have once again raised concerns over student mental health and support systems at the institute, especially after several similar cases reported last year.
(Suicide is not a solution: If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 9152987821, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)