A 21-year-old student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died early Wednesday morning after allegedly jumping from the terrace of a hostel building on the campus. The deceased has been identified as Naman Agarwal, a second-year B.Tech student in Civil Engineering.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 am, when Agarwal allegedly jumped from the terrace of the nine-story Hostel No. 4. Students who were studying late at night and a security guard heard a loud sound and discovered Agarwal lying critically injured. He was immediately rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. His body has been sent for post-mortem.

Agarwal was a native of Pilani, Rajasthan. Police have informed his family. According to initial reports, Agarwal resided in Hostel No. 3. Police are currently questioning his roommate and other students to determine why he went to Hostel No. 4.

The Powai Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and have launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident. As of now, no suicide note has been recovered.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the IIT Bombay campus, leaving students and staff deeply shaken. Many students have expressed anger, attributing the incident to administrative decisions and hostel-related issues that they believe have contributed to worsening mental distress on campus. In light of the tragedy, the institute has reportedly cancelled a press conference that was scheduled for a professor who had been selected for a Padma Shri.

This incident is reminiscent of a similar case in February 2023, when an 18-year-old student, Darshan Solanki, died after jumping from a hostel terrace. In that instance, a special investigation team was formed, and a classmate was later arrested on charges of abetment of suicide.

The investigation into Agarwal's death is ongoing, and authorities are exploring all possible angles. The IIT Bombay administration has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. Further details are awaited as the police investigation progresses.