Tragedy at IIT Kharagpur: Student chokes on tablet, dies despite rescue efforts

A pall of grief hangs over the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur after a second-year student died in a freak medical accident late July 21 night.

Chandradeep Pawar, 20, a second-year electrical engineering student from Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, reportedly began choking after a tablet got lodged in his throat while taking medicine post-dinner at his on-campus hostel.

His roommates immediately rushed him to BC Roy Technology Hospital, where doctors attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency procedures, but were ultimately unable to save him. He was declared dead at 11:05 pm.

A medical bulletin issued by the hospital stated Pawar had no detectable pulse or blood pressure upon arrival, and his extremities had turned cyanotic — indicative of oxygen deprivation. “He was intubated, and a lodged piece of the tablet was extruded from the bronchus, but cardiac activity could not be restored despite full CPR protocol and the efforts of multiple senior doctors,” it mentioned.

In response, IIT Kharagpur has constituted a 10-member fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The student's family has been notified, and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination.

The institute, known for its rigorous academic environment, was left stunned by the sudden loss. Grief counseling and support measures are being extended to students and staff, officials said.

This incident has raised concerns about the availability and readiness of emergency medical response in student hostels across Indian campuses.