A pall of grief has descended upon the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) following the untimely death of Anoop Singh Chauhan, a 22-year-old M.Tech student. Anoop, a first-year student of Mechanical Engineering and a native of Azamgarh district, was found dead in his hostel room at PC Ray Hostel on Wednesday morning. His demise occurred just hours before he was scheduled to appear for an exam. Doctors suspect that a cardiac arrest was the cause of death.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the campus, prompting concerns about the increasing risk of cardiac issues among young adults. Preliminary investigations suggest that Anoop had been studying until late at night with friends. According to his hostel mates, they returned to their rooms around 11 pm on Tuesday after dinner at the hostel mess and studied until about 3 am before going to sleep. When his friends tried to wake him up at 6:30 am for the exam, he did not respond.
Panicked, his classmates attempted CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and rushed him to SSL Hospital via a university ambulance. However, doctors declared him dead upon arrival, suspecting cardiac arrest. The police were immediately informed, and Anoop's family was notified. His father, Vinod Singh Chauhan, a legal practitioner in Azamgarh, arrived at the institute following the tragic news.
Lanka police inspector Raj Kumar Sharma stated that the hostel room was inspected, and the body was sent for post-mortem after the arrival of the deceased's father. Anoop's father mentioned that he had spoken to his son the previous night, and Anoop had not indicated any health issues or prior medical complications.
The IIT-BHU administration has expressed its condolences, describing Anoop as a sincere and dedicated student. The institute deeply mourned the demise. The university administration has assured that they will seriously investigate the matter and take necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident has highlighted the need for mutual cooperation and support among students.
The tragic death of Anoop Singh Chauhan underscores a worrying trend of rising cardiac arrests among young people in India. Experts are closely examining the matter and conducting thorough studies to understand the causes and potential preventive measures. Doctors advise students to avoid stress. This event has sparked conversations around academic pressure and mental well-being on campus.
