A 22-year-old third-year civil engineering student at the National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra in Haryana was found dead in his hostel room in an apparent suicide, marking the third such incident at the institute within three months.
The student, Priyanshu Sharma from Sherpura village in Sirsa district, was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan in his locked hostel room after a friend alerted authorities late at night. Police said no suicide note was recovered and the exact reason behind the extreme step remains unclear. Investigators are examining electronic devices and other forensic evidence as part of the probe.
The death has intensified concern over student wellbeing on campus, particularly after two earlier incidents involving other students this year. In response, institute officials have begun consultations with students and faculty and are planning measures such as a mentor-mentee programme to strengthen support systems and identify early signs of stress among students.
Police Probe Into Hostel Death
According to police officials, Priyanshu, a BTech third-year civil engineering student, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room late on Wednesday night. Earlier that evening, he had contacted a friend between around 6.30 pm and 7 pm and asked him to visit his room later, reportedly telling him the door would remain open.
However, when the friend arrived at around 11.15 pm, the door was locked from inside and there was no response despite repeated knocks. Growing suspicious, the friend alerted other students living nearby, who looked through a rear window and spotted Priyanshu hanging inside the room. They immediately informed the institute authorities and the police.
A police team and forensic experts reached the spot soon after receiving the information. Officials said no suspicious circumstances were initially found at the scene. The body was later taken to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) District Civil Hospital in Thanesar for post-mortem examination before being handed over to the family.
Investigating officer Vinod Kumar confirmed that no suicide note was recovered from the room, making it difficult to immediately determine the cause of death. Authorities have since seized Priyanshu’s mobile phone and other electronic devices, which are being examined by forensic experts to identify any clues about the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Police have registered an accidental death case and said the investigation will continue based on forensic findings and statements from friends, family members and fellow students. Officials added that the family has so far expressed satisfaction with the police investigation and has not raised any formal complaints. However, investigators emphasised that all possible angles—including personal, financial or emotional factors—are being examined.
Campus Concern Over Student Deaths
Priyanshu’s death has drawn attention because it follows two similar incidents at the institute earlier this year, raising alarm among students and authorities alike. On February 16, a 19-year-old first-year Computer Science and Engineering student, Angod Shiva from Rangareddy district in Telangana, was found hanging in his hostel room.
According to police, he had attended classes earlier that day before returning to his room, where he was later discovered after roommates noticed he had not come for lunch. As in Priyanshu’s case, no suicide note was found, and investigations were launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.
Another student, Pawan Kumar from Haryana’s Nuh district, allegedly died by suicide on campus on April 2. While investigations in these cases are still ongoing, sources indicated that financial stress may have been a contributing factor in the earlier incidents.
Reports suggested that Shiva had been facing financial difficulties, while Pawan Kumar was believed to have been under financial strain and struggling with an addiction to online gaming. In Pawan Kumar’s case, police reportedly recovered a suicide note, though it did not clearly specify a reason for the act.
Reacting to the series of incidents, officials at NIT Kurukshetra said there was currently no evidence linking the deaths to academic or institutional pressure. The institute’s public relations in-charge, Professor Gian Bhushan, said that preliminary assessments indicated that the circumstances surrounding each case appeared different and were likely influenced by personal factors. He added that the institute administration was cooperating fully with police investigations and reviewing internal measures to better support students.
In response to the growing concern, the institute’s Board of Governors chairperson, Tejaswini Anantha Kumar, recently interacted with students and faculty members to better understand their concerns and identify preventive measures. Among the steps being considered is the introduction of a mentor-mentee programme that would assign each faculty member to a small group of around 20–25 students.
The initiative aims to ensure closer interaction between faculty and students so that signs of stress, financial difficulties or emotional struggles can be identified early and addressed through timely support. With more than 5,000 students enrolled at the institute, officials believe such structured engagement could help build a stronger support network on campus.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The loss of young lives in educational institutions is always deeply distressing, and the recurrence of such incidents within a short span raises urgent questions about the emotional and social environments in which students live and study. While investigations must determine the precise circumstances behind each tragedy, these events remind us that academic institutions are not merely spaces for intellectual growth they are also communities responsible for the wellbeing of thousands of young people navigating intense transitions in their lives.
Financial pressures, personal struggles, social isolation, and the fear of failure can silently accumulate in the lives of students, particularly those studying away from home for the first time. Addressing these challenges requires more than reactive measures after a crisis. Institutions must build compassionate ecosystems where counselling services are easily accessible, mentorship programmes are meaningful rather than symbolic, and conversations around mental health are normalised without stigma.
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