Even as alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur marked a milestone with the announcement of a ₹100 crore contribution towards the institute’s future, tragedy struck the campus the same night, with a final-year BTech student found dead in his hostel room
Student found alone in locked room
The deceased has been identified as Jai Singh Meena (26), a fourth-year BTech student of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He was found hanging in his hostel room on Monday morning. Meena, a native of Ajmer in Rajasthan and son of Gauri Shankar Meena, was staying in Room 148 of E Block.
Police said the room was locked from the inside. As Meena’s roommate had left for home due to the winter vacation, concerns were raised when the door did not open in the morning. After breaking it open, police found the student hanging from a rod fixed in the room, using a strip torn from a blanket.
Police investigation underway
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashutosh Kumar, preliminary findings suggest that Meena may have attempted to cut his wrist with a knife before taking the extreme step. A knife and blood stains were recovered from the room, though officials believe the injury was not fatal. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination.
No suicide note was found. However, investigators recovered a notebook containing the words “Sorry Everyone”, which has been taken into custody as part of the investigation. Police said initial evidence points towards suicide, but all possible angles are being examined.
Campus in shock, family informed
The IIT Kanpur administration has informed Meena’s family, who are expected to arrive in Kanpur shortly. While no senior official addressed the incident publicly, the institute’s media cell issued a statement expressing deep sorrow and extending condolences to the bereaved family.
The campus is currently under winter vacation, which began on December 28, and Meena was reportedly preparing to return home.
Renewed focus on student well-being
The incident has once again brought attention to mental health concerns at IIT Kanpur. This is the third student suicide reported at the institute in 2025. Earlier, on October 2, another student, Dheeraj Saini, died by suicide on campus.
Police records indicate that over a dozen student suicides have been reported at IIT Kanpur in the last five years, and more than 18 in the past 15 years, despite the presence of counselling and student support mechanisms. The latest death has intensified calls for stronger, more accessible mental health interventions within premier educational institutions.