Tragedy at IIT Bhilai: Student Death Prompts Investigation into Medical Negligence and Campus Health Facilities

The death of an 18-year-old first-year IIT Bhilai student has triggered significant outrage and protests among campus residents, prompting a police investigation into alleged medical negligence by the institute's health center.

Saumil (also referred to as Somil) Sahu, a first-semester B.Tech student studying Electrical Engineering from Madhya Pradesh, developed a fever on November 10. His condition deteriorated rapidly by the following morning, necessitating an emergency transfer to a nearby hospital where medical staff pronounced him dead upon arrival. The student's family has raised serious allegations of negligence against both the college administration and the medical professionals who attended to him.

In response to the incident, distressed students organized a protest on campus that continued until 3 am Tuesday night. The following evening, they attempted to conduct a candlelight march, which administration officials prevented at the main gate.

Student demonstrators have highlighted critical deficiencies in the institute's medical facilities, claiming that delays and poor management at the campus health center directly contributed to Saumil's death. One student told media representatives, "If there had been a doctor and ambulance available on time, Saumil could have been saved."

Law enforcement has registered a case at the Durg police station and launched an investigation. Additional SP Sukhnandan Rathore confirmed, "A young man, an IIT student, was admitted to the hospital and died. A post-mortem has been conducted, and an FIR has been registered. Further investigation is in progress."

IIT Bhilai issued a comprehensive statement expressing profound grief and outlining immediate corrective measures: "It is with profound grief that we inform the passing of Mr. Somil Sahu, a first-semester B.Tech student in Electrical Engineering, on November 11, 2025. Somil was a bright young mind whose untimely demise has deeply saddened the IIT Bhilai community. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends."

The institute has implemented several remedial actions, including requesting the Superintendent of Police to conduct a thorough investigation, immediately suspending the institute's medical officer, ensuring round-the-clock medical personnel and ambulance availability at the campus health center, securing approval from the Durg Collector for a government doctor deployment, and forming a fact-finding committee comprising representatives from AIIMS, the local government medical college, and student representatives to assess medical arrangements. This committee will deliver its findings within 15 days.

Saumil's tragic death has renewed concerns regarding the adequacy of medical infrastructure at premier educational institutions, with students reporting that the campus health center has been understaffed for several months.