Wall-mounted fans, sources have told NDTV, will replace the ceiling fans on IIT Bombay campus after the death of a student by suicide and amid calls for “meaningful institutional reforms” and greater accountability.
Sahil Wakode, a 22-year-old second year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room on the Powai campus on Friday evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination .
Criticism of Fan Replacement Amid Student Suicide Crisis
Anish Gavande, spokesperson for the NCP (SP), has criticized the recent decision to replace ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans in response to a student’s alleged suicide. He argued that such measures do not address the root causes of the student suicide crisis. Gavande emphasized the need for a stronger focus on suicide prevention and mental health support rather than superficial changes. The incident has already led to protests on campus, highlighting the urgency of addressing mental health issues among students.
