The IIT Patna community was left in shock after third-year student Rahul Lavari died by suicide on Tuesday. Lavari, a resident of Hyderabad, was pursuing a dual degree in computer science and mathematics. His untimely death has raised concerns about mental health and student well-being within highly competitive academic institutions.
According to reports, Lavari first inflicted self-harm by cutting his wrist before jumping from the seventh floor of a hostel building. Fellow students, upon discovering the incident, rushed him to Netaji Subhash Medical College and Hospital in Bihta. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
The police have launched an investigation to determine what led to this tragic decision. IIT police station in-charge Vivek Kumar stated that the authorities are gathering evidence and speaking with students and faculty members to piece together the circumstances surrounding Lavari’s death. “The reasons behind the student’s death are yet to be determined,” he said.
IIT Patna director Prof TN Singh visited the site, but the institute’s administration has yet to make an official statement regarding the incident. Students, shaken by the loss of their peer, are seeking answers. A fellow student, Ritu Sinha, described Lavari as a cheerful person, expressing disbelief over his passing. “I don’t know why he did this. We saw blood in his hostel room. By the time we broke the door to reach him, he had already jumped,” she said.
This heartbreaking incident has once again brought attention to the immense academic pressure that students face in premier institutions like IITs. Many are now calling for increased mental health support and counseling services to help students navigate stress and personal challenges.
