‘8 deaths since 2023, still counting:’ IIT Delhi faces mounting questions over student safety

Rishikesh Kumar's death has brought renewed scrutiny to IIT Delhi, where students say eight students have died by suicide since 2023, raising serious questions about the institute's mental health support, grievance redressal and administrative accountability.

The 31-year-old MSc Physics student's death on Aug 22 triggered protests on campus, with students demanding an independent investigation, action against officials and a broader examination of how the institute responds to students facing mental health and academic difficulties.

Students have argued that Rishikesh's case should not be treated as an isolated tragedy when similar deaths have occurred repeatedly.

Students protesting on campus have compiled a list of eight students they say have died by suicide over the past three years.

Rishikesh's brother, Abhishek, also pointed to previous deaths at the institute and said the family wanted a permanent solution to prevent similar incidents. “After the deaths of eight or nine students, we still have no confidence,” he said.

Rishikesh allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex. Police said a PCR call was received around 8:33 a.m. on Aug 22 reporting that a student had jumped from a building on the IIT Delhi campus.

He was taken to the campus hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Police said no suicide note was recovered and are examining his phone, counseling records and other evidence.

The circumstances surrounding his death have become particularly contentious because his family says the institute had been warned about his mental health condition.

Abhishek alleged that the family repeatedly approached IIT Delhi for hostel accommodation after Rishikesh returned to the institute following a medical break.

He also claimed that a request for accommodation in a family quarter was rejected and that Rishikesh was subsequently assigned an academic project that he had to complete alone.

According to Abhishek, Rishikesh had asked to be paired with another student who was also working individually on a project, but the request was not accepted. “He was unable to secure a hostel room. We also requested accommodation in a family quarter, but that request was rejected,” Abhishek alleged.

The family also claims it explicitly alerted the administration about Rishikesh's suicidal condition. Abhishek said the institute was aware of his mental health difficulties but failed to provide what the family considered adequate support.

“Mental illness can happen to anyone, but the college's behavior was so insensitive that we could not even discuss it,” Abhishek said.

He further alleged that his mother faced an insensitive remark during an interaction with a woman accompanying the dean. According to Abhishek, the woman told his mother, “Can’t you even handle one child?” He said the incident deeply affected Rishikesh, who later told his mother that he no longer wanted to continue his studies at IIT Delhi.

Students have raised similar concerns about the institute's handling of Rishikesh's return to campus. They said he had taken a semester-long withdrawal after developing mental health difficulties and had undergone treatment for more than a month.

When he returned in July, students alleged that his name had been removed from the hostel rolls because of his withdrawal. They further claimed that despite fitness clearances from hospitals where he had received treatment, he was asked to obtain another clearance from the IIT Delhi hospital before being allotted accommodation. He was eventually forced to stay in rented accommodation outside campus with his mother, according to students.

IIT Delhi has disputed the implication that it failed to provide medical support. According to the institute, Rishikesh developed mental health issues in March 2026 and was advised by its counselor and psychiatrist to remain under continuous parental supervision. His second-semester withdrawal was approved, following which he lived off campus with a parent.

After his return to IIT Delhi in July, his medical records were reviewed again by the institute's counselor and psychiatrist, who again advised continuous parental supervision. The Physics Department subsequently approved his request to withdraw from the third semester, the institute said.

That account now faces scrutiny alongside the family's allegations. If the institute had documented knowledge of Rishikesh's mental health condition and had advised continued parental supervision, questions remain over whether its academic and residential arrangements adequately accounted for his circumstances.

The protests have also exposed wider dissatisfaction with the administration. Students have accused officials of administrative indifference and demanded the resignation of Professor Sreedevi Upadhyaula, Associate Dean of Student Welfare, along with other officials they hold responsible for alleged lapses.

On Aug 24, nearly 300 students gathered outside the director's office, demanding accountability, an independent inquiry, and ₹1 crore in compensation for Rishikesh's family. When Director Rangan Banerjee announced that an inquiry committee would be formed but said Professor Sreedevi would not resign, students responded with hoots.

The anger was not limited to Rishikesh's case. Students questioned why repeated deaths had not resulted in more fundamental changes to the institute's student welfare systems.

“We are not here after one suicide. Not after two. We are here after eight. How is it not enough for them?” a student said.

Another student alleged that students raising problems were effectively told to leave if they could not cope, describing the administration as lacking empathy.

Under mounting pressure, IIT Delhi has now constituted an external inquiry committee to examine the circumstances surrounding Rishikesh's death and alleged administrative lapses.

The panel includes former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, AIIMS Delhi psychiatry head Professor Pratap Sharma and two student representatives.

The committee will interact with students and faculty, examine the functioning of relevant administrative offices and review existing protocols and processes. It has been given two weeks to submit its report.

IIT Delhi has also announced plans to appoint an external ombudsperson to handle student grievances that remain unresolved through internal mechanisms. The institute said it would additionally create a faculty-student mentor support system for students with mental health issues who require parental support.

The institute has announced financial assistance for Rishikesh's family, including reimbursement of medical expenses and assistance through its benevolent fund. It will also create a separate fund through voluntary contributions from faculty members, students and staff.

But the measures have come only after protests and mounting demands for accountability. For students, the central issue is no longer simply whether IIT Delhi can investigate one death. It is whether an institution that has faced repeated student deaths can demonstrate that its systems are capable of recognizing warning signs, responding to vulnerable students and acting before another tragedy occurs.

With students citing eight deaths since 2023, the external inquiry will face a much larger question than the circumstances surrounding Rishikesh Kumar's death: whether IIT Delhi's existing support and grievance mechanisms have failed to address a recurring crisis on campus.