IIT Kharagpur mulls smaller ceiling fans in hostels to prevent suicides
The move comes in the wake of multiple student deaths by suicide on the campus this year, sparking concern over emotional well-being among hostel residents.
"Apart from taking steps like reaching out to students on campus 24x7, interaction with parents of boarders every alternate month and 'campus mothers' programme , and having permanent psychiatrists, we are also exploring steps like scaling down size of ceiling fans so that it cannot be used for any other purpose," institute director Suman Chakraborty told PTI.
Chakraborty said, "This is not an alternative to addressing mental health issues. But to avoid certain situations triggered by sudden impulses to self-destruct oneself, when none may be around, during certain moment."
He added that the presence or absence of tools to cause self-harm can make a crucial difference in critical moments, especially when backed by counselling and emotional support.
To a question, the director said, "We are mulling to replace fans of all the 21 hostels, housing around 16,000 students, with smaller ones in phases. So can't give a timeline immediately."
A 10-member fact-finding team has been formed by the premier institute to explore the circumstances and factors which led to the death of fourth-year BTech student Ritam Mondal who was found hanging in his hostel room on July 18.
Mondal, a 21-year-old mechanical engineering student, had returned to campus on July 15, a day after the convocation, following a two-month vacation.
On January 12, Shaon Malik, a third-year electrical engineering student, died by suicide.
On April 20, Aniket Walker, a final-year Ocean Engineering student from Maharashtra, was found hanging in JC Bose Hall.
On May 4, Mohammad Asif Qamar, a third-year BTech student from Bihar, was found dead in his room at Madan Mohan Malviya Hall.
The institute also installed bar codes on the gates of every hostel room where the helpline number of counselling services can be scanned by a student in emotional stress at any hour.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
7 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Irretrievably broken down': Granting divorce, SC directs man to give ₹4 cr Mumbai flat to estranged wife
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted divorce to an estranged couple, saying that their marriage is clearly "irretrievably broken down". The top court also directed the man to hand over his ₹4 crore Mumbai flat to his estranged wife. The top court cautioned that if the appellant does not comply with the aforementioned directions, then the divorce order shall not come into effect.(Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times) An apex court bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria dismissed the criminal proceedings against the man under Sections 498-A (subjecting woman to cruelty), 406 (criminal breach of trust) read with Section 34 of IPC and observed that they were vague and inane with any specific instances, news agency PTI reported. The bitter relationship between the two for the last eight years without any let-up and multiple pending legal proceedings, clearly shows that their marriage had "irretrievably broken down". "We also allow the application filed under Article 142 of the Constitution of India dissolving the marriage between the appellant and the second respondent finding the marriage to have irretrievably broken down, in the best interest of both the parties and for doing complete justice," PTI quoted the top court bench. ALSO READ | Issue public apology to husband: SC to IPS officer who filed 15 cases in divorce battle The apex court also observed that the alimony claim was not justified, especially since the appellant is unemployed. The man, a former bank employee, was further directed to deposit the remaining dues to the housing society up to September 1, 2025, towards the apartment's maintenance charges. The bench said, "Appellant shall execute a gift deed on or before August 30, 2025 on any date informed by written notice; by the appellant to the respondent, with due acknowledgment taken. We have seen from the records that the draft of the deed was exchanged between the parties and both the appellant and the respondent 2 shall be present before the jurisdictional Registrar for execution and registration on the date notified." In case the estranged wife does not show up, the top court directed the jurisdictional registrar to acknowledge and record the man's presence. Following this, the parties should appear before the registrar on September 15, 2025 for the execution of the deed. The top court cautioned that if the appellant does not comply with the aforementioned directions, then the divorce order shall not come into effect. "However, if the respondent does not present herself on the date notified by the appellant and on such failure even on the date specified by us, the divorce shall come into effect," it added. The Supreme Court held that all proceedings, civil and criminal, initiated by both parties, which was now dissolved, stand to be closed. "There shall also be no further proceedings, both civil and criminal instituted, by the respective parties, on any aspect arising out of in relation to the marriage," the bench said.
News18
17 minutes ago
- News18
AgustaWestland: ED says Christian Michel's plea for release misleading
New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday informed a court that the plea of alleged middleman Christian Michel James for release in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case was 'misleading and devoid of any merits." Special judge Sanjay Jindal was hearing James' plea for release on the ground that he had undergone the maximum period of sentence of seven years for the purported offences. The EDs in its reply said, 'That with respect to the submissions made by the accused Christian Michel James that he has already undergone the period of maximum sentence prescribed for the offences for which he was extradited to India from United Arab Emirates, so, he is entitled to be released by virtue of the provisions of section 436 A of CrPC it is most respectfully submitted that the aforesaid submissions are misleading and devoid of any merits." Section 436 A of the erstwhile CrPC deals with maximum period for which an under trial prisoner can be detained. The ED reply said under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) provision, the the maximum sentence prescribed for the offence of money laundering was seven years. 'The date of the arrest in the present case being December 22, 2018, the maximum period of imprisonment provided for the offence has yet not expired and therefore the present entitlement sought by the accused under the provisions of section 436A of CrPC is premature and is therefore liable to be dismissed," it added. On August 4, the ED and CBI opposed the plea of Michel's counsel Aljo K Joseph that he was entitled to be released under provisions of Section 436A of the CrPC. James was extradited from Dubai in December 2018 and was subsequently arrested by the CBI and the ED. He was granted bail in the CBI case by the Supreme Court on February 18 this year. Two weeks later, he was granted bail in the ED case by the Delhi High Court. Michel, however, has not furnished bail bonds and remains in Tihar prison, awaiting the renewal of his passport. The ED chargesheet led against James in June 2016 alleged that he received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. PTI MNR MNR AMK AMK view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 20:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
17 minutes ago
- News18
Two foreign nationals held with mephedrone in MP
Bhopal, Aug 5 (PTI) Two foreign nationals have been arrested for alleged possession of mephedrone during the Madhya Pradesh police's anti-drug campaign, an official said on Tuesday. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Shailendra Singh Chauhan said that the crime branch arrested Orakor Onyeka (34), a Nigerian national, and Benchamat Moon (41), a woman hailing from Thailand. He said the woman, who worked in spas in Bhopal, allegedly peddled drugs online in Bhopal and Delhi, and 2.95 gms of mephedrone was recovered from her. The official said the accused duo have criminal cases in Delhi and Bhopal and had been arrested in the past as well. The crime branch had earlier arrested two accused and recovered 15 gms of mephedrone from them, he said. view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 20:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
