Another tragic incident has occurred at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, where a 22-year-old engineering student, Soham Haldar, reportedly died by suicide. This incident marks the second death at the campus within just ten days, raising serious concerns about the mental health support available to students.
According to officials, the body of Soham Haldar was discovered on Tuesday morning in the Madan Mohan Malviya Hall. Preliminary reports indicate that the cause of death appears to be suicide. Security personnel were prompted to open Haldar’s room when he failed to respond throughout the morning. Upon entering, they found him hanging, after which the police were alerted to the scene. The authorities have since sent the body for a post-mortem examination, while the deceased’s family has been notified.
This incident follows the earlier death of another student, Jaibir Singh Dodia, who died by suicide on April 18, when he jumped from the eighth floor of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall. Sadly, this troubling pattern highlights the need for improved mental health resources at the institution, especially considering that seven students have reportedly died at IIT Kharagpur in 2025 alone, with five of those incidents being attributed to suicide.
The IIT Kharagpur community is in mourning as they confront these sad occurrences. Moving forward, it is crucial for the administration to evaluate and enhance support mechanisms for students to prevent further tragedies.