Mental health neglect or systemic failure? KIIT University under scanner after three student ‘suicides’ in a year

The recent death of a first-year engineering (computer science) student at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar on Sunday night has triggered intense controversy and public concern, placing the institution under renewed scrutiny over student safety and mental health support. 

The incident marks the third suspected suicide reported from the KIIT campus within a year, raising questions about the university’s preventive measures.

Earlier this year, a Nepali girl student was reportedly found hanging in her hostel on February 16, while another girl student from Nepal reportedly ended her life by suicide on May 1.

Body Found Hanging In Hostel Room

According to police sources, information reached the Infocity Police Station at 10:45 pm on Sunday, following which a team rushed to the university hostel and recovered the body found hanging inside a locked room. The deceased, Rahul Yadav, hailing from Raigarh in Chhattisgarh, was a first-year Computer Science student.

Mother Levels Serious Allegations

Rahul’s mother has levelled grave charges against the university authorities. She claimed that she had earlier informed the institution about her son’s fragile mental condition, but no action or support was provided.  She further alleged that KIIT officials ignored her calls on the day of the incident, saying no one answered when she attempted to contact them.

Questions On Campus Safety & Counselling Support

The grieving mother also questioned the lack of preventive measures, such as anti-suicide fan designs, now implemented in institutions like Kota after a rise in student suicides, asking why such systems were not in place in KIIT hostels.

“Strict action should be initiated against the university and hostel authorities. In Kota, hostel rooms do not have fans to prevent suicide. Why are there fans in the hostel here? I have told the hostel officials to meet my son’s informing them about his fragile mental health condition. Even after calling multiple times, no one answered my call,” alleged deceased student’s mother.

Also Read: KIIT student death: Mother alleges threat & intimidation from girlfriend’s family, demands justice

The Incident Has Sparked Several Critical Questions:

• Was Rahul offered counselling support after concerns were raised by the family?
• If counselling was provided, how frequently?
• Does KIIT have an active mental health intervention system?
• If yes, why did it fail to prevent such a tragedy?

Growing Concern Over Rising Suicides

Reports of suicide in educational institutions have been increasing across the state, with three cases in KIIT alone in a year, prompting widespread alarm. Mental health experts say academic pressure, emotional distress, and lack of accessible counselling services are contributing factors.

Dr Samrat Kar, a psychiatrist, said, “There are two types of suicide. In the KIIT University case, the mother of the deceased student was aware of his mental health condition. When someone is thinking of suicide, in that case, counselling is not enough; rather, medication is required.”

Asked about whether the life of the student could have been saved, Dr Kar said, “It is curable, and life could have been saved.”

Also Read: KIIT student death: Inquest, post mortem after arrival of parents, says Commissionerate Police

Need for Systemic Reform

The tragedy has reignited debate over student well-being infrastructure in higher education campuses, calling for immediate reforms, stronger oversight and transparent mechanisms to prevent recurring incidents.

No comments from KIIT University officials could be obtained over the matter.