Pragati Kharya a resident of Sanigawan in Kanpur and a PHD student in Earth Sciences took her own life in her hostel room D-116 in Hall Number 4 during the night. The incident was discovered on Thursday afternoon according to authorities.
Kanpur: 28 years old PHD student at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur took her life by hanging from a ceiling hook on Thursday marking the fourth such incident in the past year according to police reports.
Pragati Kharya a resident of Sanigawan in Kanpur who was pursuing a PHD in Earth Sciences died by suicide in her hostel room D-116 in Hall Number 4 during the night with the incident coming to light on Thursday afternoon.
Her fellow hostel residents notified the IIT-K authorities who subsequently alerted the police.
In a statement IIT Kanpur expressed profound sorrow over the tragic and untimely passing of Pragati Kharya.
Pragati Kharya had joined the PHD program in December 2021 the institute noted.
“Police forensic team has arrived on campus to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. The Institute is awaiting the results of the police investigation to ascertain the cause. With Pragati Kharya’s passing, the institute has lost a promising young researcher. We extend our deepest condolences and pray for strength and comfort for her family and friends during this difficult time IIT said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Rajesh Kumar Singh informed PTI that the police received reports of a suicide involving a PHD student around noon today.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kalyanpur) Abhishek Pandey stated Upon receiving information about the suicide police rushed to the scene and found the door of Pragati room locked from the inside. After forcing the door open they discovered her body hanging from the ceiling fan.
The police reported that a forensic team was called in to collect evidence.
A suicide note was recovered from the room in which she expressed that no one was to blame for her decision. Additionally a mobile phone was found in the hostel room which may assist the police in unravelling the circumstances surrounding the suicide. The ACP mentioned that potential reasons for the suicide would only be revealed after a preliminary investigation and the completion of necessary formalities.
The body has been sent to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination and family members have also arrived at IIT Kanpur according to the police.
In previous incidents on January 18 29 years old PHD student Priyanka Jaiswal who was studying Chemical Engineering allegedly took her own life in her hostel room after locking herself inside. Earlier on January 11 31 yeas old MTech second year student Vikas Kumar Meena reportedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan in his IIT Kanpur hostel room allegedly after being temporarily barred from continuing his studies. Additionally on December 19 postdoctoral researcher Pallavi Chilka 34 years old also hanged herself from a ceiling fan in her second floor hostel room on campus.
