Sharmili Mallick

A student of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Berhampur died mysteriously after reportedly falling from a van engaged in delivering food in the college’s hostel on Tuesday.

The youth has been identified as Saswat Das, a resident of Rajkanika area in Kendrapara district and a second year student of Electronics and Telecommunication Department of the institute.

As per reports, Saswat who was looking after food delivery work in the college hostel, was reportedly going to deliver some food parcels in a van when the incident happened. 

The ITI authorities claimed that he accidentally fell from the vehicle and became unconscious. He was immediately rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur where the doctors declared him brought dead. 

However, his family members who reached Berhampur yesterday after receiving the news of his death said that he did not have any visible injuries of falling from vehicle. The family members further alleged that the college staff have different stories about Saswat’s death.

“When I reached the hospital, two staff from the college - an attendant and another superintendent - were present at the spot. When I asked them the exact cause of the death, they both gave me different answers. One told the incident occurred outside the hostel while the other said he fell down inside the hostel campus,” alleged Saswat’s elder brother, Nihar Ranjan Das. 

On the other hand, Berhampur ITI authorities have said that an investigation has been launched to find out the exact reason behind the death of Saswat.

Dr Rajat Panigrahi, Principal of Berhampur ITI informed, “The doctors at the MKCG told me that he died after suffering cardiac arrest. However, the exact cause of his death will be ascertained after the autopsy."

The college has formed a three-member fact finding committee comprising of senior lecturers to find out the exact happenings that led to the student’s death. The team will submit a report in this regard soon, said Panigrahi.

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