Research student trapped in lockdown commits suicide in Kharagpur IIT

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The body of a 31-year-old research student has been found hanging inside the room in the hostel of IIT-Kharagpur. The young man was married before the lockdown. He was unable to return to his hometown with his wife and parents due to traffic stops.

Police said on Tuesday that B.V. Kondal Rao's body was found hanging in a room on the second floor of BR Ambedkar Hall at around 10 am on Monday. According to a police officer, Rao's parents gave information over the phone to the other boys living in the hostel when they were not talking to him. After this, they all reached the hostel room, which was locked inside. Due to repeated knocking, he informed the police as no response was received. He said that when the police reached the hostel and broke the door of the room, his body was hanging on the noose. The police officer, at first sight, has described it as a case of suicide. I also said that investigation is going on.

Rao, a resident of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, was a research student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering here. Police sources said Rao was married at home in February. He returned to the Kharagpur IIT campus after two weeks of marriage.

After this, he could not get a chance to return as the lockdown was on. His wife is currently in Chennai, where she works. IIT Kharagpur director VK Tiwari called Rao a very talented student. It also said that the institute is in touch with Rao's family in this hour of grief.

The research was about to be completed

There is currently silence on the IIT campus as most of the students have gone to their respective homes before the lockdown. There are very few students staying in hostels too. Rao's friends told me that he had joined IIT for a research project in 2015 and now his work was going to be almost over. He told that Rao was a very cheerful type of student, which was liked by all colleagues and teachers.

Director appealed to students on Facebook

IIT Kharagpur director VK Tiwari, writing a post on Facebook, appealed to the students living in the hostel to keep in touch with their friends to avoid stress. He wrote, Look beyond the obstacles that may seem like the most important chapter in your life at this time.

But if you are able to imagine your life for a long time, then these are just speed-breakers. He further wrote, reach out to us, your faculty supervisors, to the counseling center. Talk to your friends, family, seniors, juniors, all these are just one step away from you.

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