A 26-year-old student from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay reportedly died by suicide in the early hours of Saturday.
IIT-Bombay has issued a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. The institute wrote, “It is with deep sorrow that we inform you of the untimely passing of our final-year student, Mr. Rohit Sinha (22) (B.Tech., MEMS Department), in a tragic incident that occurred late last night. The Powai Police are currently investigating the matter.”
It is with deep sorrow that we inform you of the untimely passing of our final-year student, Mr. Rohit Sinha ((22) (https://t.co/KI2VMHL3pq., MEMS Department), in a tragic incident that occurred late last night.
The Powai Police are currently investigating the matter.
The…
— IIT Bombay (@iitbombay) August 2, 2025
The student, identified as Rohit Sinha from Delhi, is said to have jumped from the terrace of his hostel around 2:30 am, PTI reported citing sources. He was immediately taken to Hiranandani Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
A fellow hostel resident told the police that he was on a phone call on the terrace when he witnessed Sinha jump.
Sinha was a fourth-year student enrolled in the Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science programme.
Powai Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. At the time of publishing, the institute had not issued an official statement.
Student suicides in India are rising at an alarming rate, with over 13,000 students dying by suicide every year, as per 2022 data from the National Crime Records Bureau. In recent weeks, heartbreaking cases have emerged from colleges like Sharda University, where students reportedly ended their lives due to academic stress and alleged harassment.
The Supreme Court has called this a “systemic failure” and has asked educational institutions to take serious steps to support students’ mental health, including setting up proper emotional support and suicide prevention programs on campuses.
Studies have found that many students preparing for tough entrance exams like IIT JEE and NEET are dying by suicide, especially boys between the ages of 15 and 20. Most of these cases involve hanging. The main reasons are intense academic pressure and the stigma around talking about mental health, which stops students from asking for help when they’re struggling.