Tragic Death at IIT-Kanpur: Final-Year BTech Student Found Dead in Hostel Room Amid Mental Health Concerns

A 22-year-old final-year BTech student at IIT-Kanpur was discovered deceased in his hostel room after fellow students reported a foul odor, according to police statements on Thursday.

Dheeraj Saini, who was pursuing electrical engineering and hailed from Haryana, had not been seen leaving his room number 123 in Hostel-1. Authorities were alerted when other residents detected an unpleasant smell coming from his locked room on Wednesday.

Police officials broke open the door and discovered Saini's body hanging from the ceiling fan with a rope, as reported by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kalyanpur) Ranjeet Kumar.

Investigators did not find any suicide note at the scene.

The student had recently told his sister that he was planning to visit home in December.

The body was transferred to the mortuary with an autopsy scheduled for Thursday evening. ACP Kumar informed PTI that the official cause of death would be confirmed following the post-mortem examination.

"Further investigation will be conducted if any complaint is filed," the police officer stated.

Upon hearing the devastating news, the student's father, Satish Saini, who operates a sweet shop, was overcome with grief.

"IIT-K has swallowed my son.... I cannot explain how hard I worked to educate him," the distraught father told police.

He mentioned that his son had recently informed his elder sister about plans to visit home in December and was expecting to secure employment through campus recruitment by March.

According to fellow residents at the hostel, Saini was a quiet individual who generally kept to himself. His hostel-mates had assumed he was away on leave due to the ongoing holiday period and had not checked on him until the concerning smell began emanating from his room.

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Vandrevala Foundation for Mental Health: 9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.com
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