A third-year undergraduate student of English at Jadavpur University (JU) died on Thursday evening after being found unconscious near a water body on the campus, according to university officials.
Who was Anamika Mondal?
The student has been identified as Anamika Mondal, a resident of North 24-Parganas, West Bengal. She was discovered near the Arts Faculty Students’ Union (AFSU) room and rushed to a nearby private medical college and hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Faculty members, student representatives, and university staff accompanied her to the hospital. Police from Jadavpur Police Station also reached the hospital to begin an investigation. Her body has since been sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Incident during cultural programme
The tragedy occurred while a cultural programme organised by JU’s Drama Club was underway near Gate No. 4 of the campus. Folk singer Gour Das Baul and his troupe were performing before students and alumni. Around 10.20 pm, some attendees spotted someone floating in the pond close to the student union room.
Fellow students pulled Anamika out of the water and attempted CPR before rushing her to hospital. Witnesses said the loud music and crowd activity during the performance may have drowned out any cries for help. Police sources said debris was found in the water, but the circumstances of her fall remain unclear.
Previous incident raises concerns
The death has once again drawn attention to safety concerns on the JU campus. It comes just three years after the death of Swapnadeep Kundu, a first-year Bengali honours student who died in 2022 after falling from a hostel balcony in an alleged ragging incident.
Demands for security measures in campus
The latest incident has triggered fresh demands from student groups for enhanced security on campus. The Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) and other student organisations have reiterated their call for CCTV coverage across the university grounds and the establishment of a permanent police outpost inside the campus.