IIT Bombay replaces hostel ceiling fans following student death

IIT Bombay has begun replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted units in its hostels following the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Wakode. Wakode, a second-year student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found dead in his hostel room on September 18. Reports indicate the incident occurred hours after he was allegedly caught using ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.

While the institute suggests the fan replacement is part of an ongoing renovation and maintenance project that was discussed months prior, the move has sparked significant debate regarding student welfare and mental health. NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gavande criticized the measure, questioning whether changing hardware could address the systemic issue of student suicides and calling for increased mental health support.

In response to the incident and subsequent protests, the institute removed Professor Suryanarayana Doolla from his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs. Additionally, Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against Professor Doolla following a complaint from Wakode’s father, who has also alleged that his son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage and conducting forensic analysis on the student's mobile phone to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.