A second-year Electrical Engineering student at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur choked to death on Monday night, marking the second unnatural student death on campus in just four days. Preliminary medical reports indicate that Chandradeep Pawar from Madhya Pradesh, died after a tablet got lodged in his windpipe, causing fatal airway obstruction.
According to both campus sources and the West Midnapore district police, the 20-year-old student fell critically ill shortly after taking medicines following dinner. He was suffering from cold and fever. He was immediately rushed to B.C. Roy Technology Hospital, where medical personnel administered CPR and other emergency treatments. However, despite their efforts, Chandradeep succumbed around 11:30 pm on Monday.
A senior district police officer confirmed the cause of death, stating, “The tablet appears to have gotten stuck in his windpipe while he was trying to swallow it, leading to breathing difficulties. He was taken to the campus hospital, where first aid was given. Unfortunately, he died during treatment.”
Also read: IIT Madras breaks into Top 200 in QS rankings
Last Friday, fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student Ritam Mandal, was found dead in his room under suspicious circumstances. The body was discovered hanging, and the police are investigating the case as a suspected suicide.
These two fatalities within a short span of four days mark the fifth student fatality on the IIT Kharagpur campus in just the first seven months of 2025. While the latest incident is being termed an accident, the previous four deaths were said to be cases of suicides.
In the wake of the students’ unnatural deaths, IIT Kharagpur has decided to form a Student Task Force in each hostel. The aim of these task forces will be to foster communication, identify signs of distress among students early and create a support system that can intervene before tragedy occurs.
Grief-stricken students gathered in silence late Monday night outside Nehru Hall, where Pawar was staying, lighting candles in remembrance of their peer.
Follow us
