22-year-old student found dead on IIT Bombay campus

MUMBAI: A 22-year-old student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay was found deceased on the Powai campus early Saturday, with authorities suspecting he fell from a hostel building’s rooftop. The student, a fourth-year Metallurgical and Materials Engineering major from Delhi, was discovered after an incident reported at 2:30 a.m. by hostel officials, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 10) Datta Nalawade.

The Powai police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, which remains unclear pending further inquiry. On Friday evening, the deceased, along with a group of fellow students, had ordered dinner and gathered on the rooftop of a hostel building. After the meal, the other students departed, leaving the individual alone, as per police accounts. No suicide note has been recovered, and authorities are yet to determine the precise cause of death.

The incident has prompted a thorough investigation, with the Powai police filing an Accidental Death Report (ADR). Officers are interviewing peers and hostel staff to gather additional details and plan to search the student’s room for any evidence, such as a note, that might clarify the events leading to the tragedy. The student’s family has been informed, and the body was sent for a post-mortem examination to aid in determining the cause of death.

This marks another somber event at IIT Bombay, where similar incidents have occurred in recent years. The institute has not issued a public statement, but the loss of a young scholar has cast a shadow over the campus community. Authorities continue to probe whether the fall was accidental or intentional, emphasizing the need for a meticulous investigation to provide answers to the grieving family and the IIT Bombay community.