28-year-old PhD student dies by suicide at IIT Kanpur, 4th such case in a year

A top police official said they found the student's room locked when they reached the hostel, adding that her body was recovered after breaking open the door of the room. 

In Short

• Suicide note found, student claimed responsibility for her death
• Mobile phone also recovered from hostel room
• 28-year-old had completed BSc from Hansraj College

A 28-year-old PhD student died by suicide on Thursday in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur, making it the fourth such incident in the last year.

She was pursuing her PhD in Earth Sciences and died by suicide inside her hostel room D-116 in hall number-4 during the intervening night, but the matter came to light on Thursday noon after her hostel mates alerted the authorities.

"A police forensic team has visited the campus to investigate the circumstances of the death. The Institute is awaiting the results of the police investigation to determine the cause. With Pragati Kharya's passing, the institute has lost a promising young researcher. The institute extends its deepest condolences and prays for strength and comfort to her family and friends in this time of great loss," IIT Kanpur said in a statement.

A top police official said that they found her room locked when they reached the hostel, adding that her body was recovered after breaking open the door of the room. The police said a forensic team was called to collect the forensic evidence.

A note was found at the scene in which the student had written that she was responsible for her own death. The police official said that a mobile phone was also recovered from the hostel room that might help police in solving the mystery behind the suicide.

The 28-year-old had completed her BSc from Delhi University's Hansraj College and her MSc from Bundelkhand University in Jhansi.

(With inputs from Simarpreet)