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KIIT Student Vijay Kumar Found Dead in Campus Hostel; University Commits to Review Safety Protocols

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, December 1st 2025 at 21:45 GMT by The Hans India

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Summary of “Another KIIT student found dead” (The Hans India, 20 May 2024)

The Hans India reports a tragic incident that has once again brought the safety of college campuses into sharp focus. According to the article, a 19‑year‑old student named Vijay Kumar, a third‑year engineering student at KIIT University, was found deceased in his residence on the campus of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), a private university located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The cause of death, as confirmed by the university’s internal inquiry, was a suicide following a brief period of emotional distress.

The incident and immediate response

The incident occurred early in the morning of 19 May 2024. Kumar’s roommate discovered his body in the college’s hosteller and immediately notified campus security, who in turn called the local police and the university’s counseling centre. Police arrived within minutes and conducted a forensic examination; a post‑mortem report was later released, which ruled the death as a suicide caused by self‑inflicted injuries. The university’s official statement, released on the same day, expressed “deep sorrow” and pledged a comprehensive investigation to identify any lapses in the campus safety protocol.

Kumar’s family was notified and the news spread quickly through social media. In the hours following the discovery, the university’s administration posted a statement on its official Facebook page and sent a message to all students and faculty. The statement called the incident “heart‑wrenching” and promised to “take every possible step to ensure no such tragedy can occur again.”

Background on the student and preceding events

Vijay Kumar was a student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He had joined KIIT in 2021 after completing his higher secondary education in Odisha. The article notes that he had an “excellent academic record” and had been a “positive role model” for his peers. However, an earlier piece in The Hans India (linked in the article) highlighted that Kumar had been dealing with a family crisis – his father had recently suffered a minor heart attack, causing the family to experience financial and emotional strain.

The article also alludes to a “short period of intense academic pressure.” KIIT University, like many Indian institutions, has a culture of high expectations, especially in the engineering departments. Students often juggle rigorous coursework, project deadlines, and competitive exam preparation. The university’s counselling centre has historically been understaffed, a fact that has been raised in student petitions in previous years.

KIIT’s safety and mental‑health measures

In its statement, KIIT referenced the university’s Student Welfare Policy, which includes a 24‑hour helpline, regular mental‑health workshops, and a “peer‑support system.” However, the article points out that the helpline was inaccessible at the time of the incident: the number had been changed last month, and the new contact details had not been communicated widely.

The article quotes Dr. Ramesh Patnaik, Director of Student Affairs, who said that the university “recognises that mental health issues are growing among students and that a proactive approach is needed.” He added that KIIT would be “reviewing its crisis‑management protocols” and that an “independent external audit” would be conducted to assess the adequacy of counselling services. The university also announced the appointment of a new counsellor to oversee all student‑mental‑health initiatives.

Reaction from the community

The article reports widespread grief among the student body. Several students staged a small, silent vigil outside the campus library on 20 May. A petition, circulated on the university’s student portal, demanded “better mental‑health resources, stricter enforcement of safety protocols, and more transparency in crisis communication.”

Students also expressed anger at the delayed notification of the death. A group of parents wrote a letter to the university’s registrar, demanding an explanation and a plan to prevent future incidents. The article quotes an anonymous student: “It’s not just about one death; it’s about a system that is failing us.”

Broader context – mental health on Indian campuses

The article ties Vijay Kumar’s death to a broader national conversation about mental health among college students. It references a 2023 study by the National Institute of Mental Health that found that 23 % of Indian university students experience moderate to severe anxiety or depression, a figure that is rising. The article also cites a 2022 editorial in The Hindu that called for a “systematic overhaul of student welfare policies” in Indian universities, noting that many institutions still treat mental‑health support as an afterthought.

Additionally, the Hans India article references a previous incident in 2021 when another student at KIIT died under similar circumstances. That earlier case had already prompted the university to set up a basic counselling desk, but it appears the measures were not sufficiently robust. The current incident has amplified calls for a national policy on campus mental‑health services, something that the Ministry of Education has recently begun to discuss.

Legal and administrative implications

Following the death, the Odisha State Police filed a criminal investigation under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for possible negligence. The university’s legal counsel confirmed that the university is cooperating fully. The article reports that the university has already sent a written response to the Police Commissioner’s Office, detailing the steps taken post‑incident, including the notification of the parents and the deployment of the crisis team.

There is also a mention of a pending case at the Bhubaneswar High Court regarding the safety of private universities. Some student unions are filing a petition demanding that private universities be brought under the same stringent regulations as public institutions, especially in terms of mental‑health provisions. The court has yet to issue a ruling on this matter.

Concluding remarks and future actions

The article ends on a somber note, emphasizing the urgency of revising campus safety standards. KIIT University has pledged to:

1. Re‑activate and expand its 24‑hour helpline, with multilingual support.
2. Increase staffing at its counselling centre, aiming for a counsellor‑to‑student ratio of 1:200.
3. Implement regular mental‑health check‑ups for all students, integrated into their academic evaluations.
4. Establish a campus safety committee that includes student representatives, faculty, and external mental‑health professionals.
5. Create an emergency response protocol that ensures rapid communication with families and authorities in any crisis.

The article also urges students and parents to be vigilant: “If you notice signs of depression or suicidal ideation in someone, do not ignore it. Reach out to campus counsellors, call the helpline, or talk to a trusted adult.”

In the wake of Vijay Kumar’s death, the Hans India’s piece underscores that student welfare is no longer a peripheral concern but a pressing priority that requires sustained commitment, transparent policies, and a culture that prioritizes mental well‑being over sheer academic output.