A 20-year-old engineering student was found dead in her hostel room at a university in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, in an incident that has once again drawn attention to academic pressure faced by students in higher education.
The deceased has been identified as Princy Kumari, a native of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. She was pursuing second-year B.Tech in Computer Science and was residing in the university hostel near Punjipathra.
Incident reported late at night
According to police, Princy was found hanging in her hostel room late on Saturday night. The matter came to light after hostel authorities were alerted by her family. Police reached the spot, conducted inquest proceedings and sent the body for post-mortem examination. The body was later handed over to the family.
Officials said the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received. Statements of hostel residents and university staff are also being recorded as part of the investigation.
Family raised alarm after calls went unanswered
Sources said Princy’s family repeatedly tried to contact her around 8.30 pm on Saturday, but her phone remained unanswered. Growing anxious, they informed the hostel warden, who went to her room and found the door locked from inside.
After receiving no response despite repeated knocks, the warden looked through a window and found the student hanging, following which police were immediately informed.
Suicide note points to academic pressure
Police confirmed that a suicide note was recovered from the room. Preliminary examination of the note suggests that Princy was under severe academic stress and felt she could not meet her parents’ expectations.
In the note, she reportedly apologised to her parents and expressed distress over her academic performance and the financial burden she believed her education placed on the family. She is said to have written, “Sorry Mummy Papa, I couldn’t meet your expectations.”
Family members told police that Princy had backlogs in five subjects from her first semester and was preparing to appear for re-examinations alongside her second-year papers. They also said she had recently requested around ₹1 lakh in instalments to pay her semester fees.
Investigation continues
Police said further investigation is underway and all relevant aspects, including academic pressure and personal circumstances, are being examined.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available.
In India, students can reach out to mental health helplines such as AASRA (24×7): 91-9820466726 or Kiran (Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline): 1800-599-0019.