Another Second IIT Kharagpur Student Death in 10 Days Raises Concerns

Kharagpur : Concern deepened at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur on Tuesday after a fourth-year student was found dead in his hostel room, marking the second student death on campus within a span of 10 days.The deceased, identified as Soham Halder, 22, was a fourth-year student of Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering.He was a resident of Shalbagan in Barasat, North 24 Parganas, Halder was staying in Room No. 329 of Pandit Madanmohan Malviya Hall on the institute campus.According to police sources, concern arose after Halder did not respond and his room remained closed since Tuesday morning. Security staff later alerted the authorities. Police personnel arrived at the hostel, broke open the door, and recovered the student’s body from inside the room. He was immediately taken to BC Roy Hospital at IIT Kharagpur, where doctors declared him dead. The exact circumstances leading to the death remain unclear, and an inquiry has been initiated. Police have begun examining all possible angles surrounding the incident.The latest death comes barely 10 days after another tragedy on the IIT Kharagpur campus. On April 18, Jaiveer Singh Dariya, 21, a third-year student of Manufacturing Engineering, was found dead near Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall. Reports at the time said his body was recovered from in front of the hostel building.The back-to-back deaths have triggered serious concern among students, parents, and faculty members, while also drawing attention to larger questions surrounding student welfare at one of the country’s premier technical institutions.The two incidents in such a short span of time have led to renewed questions over the safety, emotional well-being, and mental health support available to students at IIT Kharagpur.As police continue their investigation into Halder’s death, the incidents have left the campus community shaken and searching for answers.