Mumbai, September 24: In response to the tragic suicide of second-year student Sahil Wakode, IIT Bombay is taking significant steps to improve student mental health. The institute is considering the implementation of a twin-sharing model in hostels and has increased counseling hours.
Reason for Twin Room Sharing
Living alone can lead to feelings of depression and loneliness among students. Having a roommate can provide emotional support and allow students to share their feelings with one another.
Prioritizing student mental health, IIT Bombay has significantly expanded its counseling services. Following the incident, the Dean of Student Affairs informed students via email that counseling hours have been increased at six major hostels and the Student Wellness Centre, ensuring immediate help is available whenever needed.
Institute to Cover Costs of External Counseling
IIT Bombay has assured students that they can seek help from any professional counselor or agency of their choice outside the campus, with the institute covering all associated costs. Students are encouraged to utilize these services through their faculty mentors.
The administration has also sought advice from professors and faculty members on additional measures to reduce student stress, with multiple meetings being held at the department and institute levels.
Decision on Fans Made Prior to Incident
The IIT Bombay administration has decided to replace ceiling fans in rooms with wall-mounted fans. This decision was made as part of planned renovations and was taken before the recent suicide case.
Currently, wall-mounted fans are being installed in the hostel rooms, with the fans already brought to campus.
Details of the Incident
Sahil Wakode, a second-year student from Yavatmal, Maharashtra, tragically took his own life on the evening of September 18, 2026, in his hostel room. He was studying Energy Science and Engineering.
Wakode was caught using a mobile phone in the exam hall, attempting to cheat by uploading a photo of the question paper to ChatGPT. Following his suicide, approximately 400 students protested on campus, expressing their anger over the incident.
Third Suicide Case in Seven Months
This marks the third suicide case at IIT Bombay in the past seven months. Previously, a 20-year-old second-year B.Tech student took his life in the same hostel at the beginning of the new semester in July, and another second-year student committed suicide in Hostel-4 in February.
Mid-Semester Exams Postponed
In light of the student protests, IIT Bombay has postponed the mid-semester exams originally scheduled for September 26 and 27. The exams will now take place on October 10 and 11.