IIT-K 50-year celebrations marred as student attempts suicide

Functions marking the golden jubilee celebrations of IIT here were disrupted when a student allegedly tried to commit suicide by consuming poison on the campus premises.

Dhirendra, a fourth-year student of Mechanical Engineering, consumed liquid mosquito repellent in his hostel room yesterday evening while the golden jubilee functions were going on in the campus, Sanjeev Kashalkar, Registrar at IIT Kanpur, said.

He was immediately taken to a hospital situated in the campus premises where doctors referred him to another hospital with more facilities.

The student was then taken to a private nursing home where he was kept in the ICU and his condition was stated to be stable, Kashalkar said, adding, the reason behind the suicide attempt is not known yet.

OP Singh, Superintendent of Police (crime), said though no complaint has been received regarding the incident, any case would be registered only after through investigation.

Meanwhile, the varsity administration has constituted a four-member committee to make an inquiry into the incident and asked it to submit a report within three days.