IIT Kharagpur student found dead in hostel room

Kolkata: A fourth-year undergraduate student of the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) was found dead in his hostel room on Friday morning. Ritam Mondal was a student of Mechanical Engineering. He was found dead in his hostel room this morning.

The administration has initiated the process of filing an FIR and the necessary actions as per law. The police have initiated an investigation into the incident, and the Institute is extending full cooperation to facilitate the process, the institute said.

IIT-KGP has constituted a fact-finding committee to examine the incident and report at the earliest.

“With deep sorrow, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur regrets to inform of the untimely demise of Ritam Mondal, a fourth-year undergraduate student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Mondal was found deceased in his room at Rajendra Prasad Hall of Residence on the morning of July 18, 2025,” IIT-KGP authorities said in a statement.

The Institute's security response team acted swiftly and reached the hostel premises. The Institute's medical team, the Director, senior administrative officials, and local police authorities arrived. Immediate communication was also made with Mondal's family, the institute said.

It has been learned that Mondal had recently returned to campus after the long summer vacation and resumed his classes.

“As per the records reviewed from the Institute's SARTH Counselling Centre, there were no prior indicators of mental health concerns. The faculty advisor from the department also mentioned that there were no apparent academic or non-academic issues that caught their attention,” the Institute said.

Mondal was known for his academic diligence and gentle demeanor. The Institute expresses its heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and friends and stands committed to supporting them during this difficult time.

The Director, while expressing extreme distress as a parent-like individual at this shocking incident, reiterated that the Institute is already in the process of developing a holistic intervention program combining cutting-edge technology, super-specialized expert support, and highly personalised interaction for the well-being of all students, with a mission of ensuring that such an incident never occurs again.

“As part of its continued efforts to support student well-being, the Institute confirms the availability of dedicated mental health and counselling services around the clock. Furthermore, IIT Kharagpur is set to launch a new AI-driven mental wellness initiative, SETU, on July 25, 2025, to enhance proactive mental health support for students,” IIT-KGP said in a statement.