IIT Kharagpur scholar hangs himself in hostel room

TNN | Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 08:25 IST

Image used for representational purpose only

KHARAGPUR/KOLKATA: A research scholar of the mechanical engineering department at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, committed suicide on Monday. Bhavanibhatla Kondal Rao, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, was found hanging in his room at B R Ambedkar Hall on the second floor. His parents have been informed and they are on their way to Kharagpur.
Some of the students became concerned on Monday morning after Rao was not found in the dining hall for breakfast. Being alarmed, some of them rushed to his room where the door was found locked from inside. The students raised alarm and informed the officials. Even the IIT-Kgp security was called who rushed to the room.
Police from Hijli outpost reached the spot and forced into the room where Rao was found unconscious. He was hanging from the ceiling with a bedsheet. He was living in a single room on the campus. The student had taken admission in 2015 and was about to complete his doctoral programme. Rao was then rushed to B C Roy Hospital on the campus and later shifted to Kharagpur sub-divisional hospital where he was declared dead. Sources said he had a record of a psychological problem and was taking assistance from the counselling centre.
Rao got stuck on the campus due to the lockdown, said a source. He got married in February and his wife was at his home. “Rao had dinner with others on Sunday and there were no signs of anxiety,” said registrar B N Singh. He added, “He was a good academic performer. Police have taken the body. We have informed his parents. The time of his suicide can be confirmed only after a post-mortem.”
SDPO Kharagpur, Sukomal Das, said, “The body has been sent for post mortem. No suicide note was found.”