Fresher kills self at hostel of IISER Mohali

A 17-year-old female student of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, reportedly died by suicide in her hostel room on Thursday evening.

The victim, Saumya Sri, a native of Samastipur, Bihar, and a Class XII pass-out, had arrived in Mohali along with her family on August 31, the police said. According to sources, it was her first day on the campus. She attended classes in the morning and returned to her Hostel No. 3 room in the evening, where she reportedly died by suicide.

According to the police, her parents were travelling back to Samastipur by train when they were informed about the incident.

The victim was rushed to the Phase-6 Civil Hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.

Her cremation was held in Mohali on Friday. IISER authorities said the reason behind her extreme step was not known and that the police were probing the matter. A condolence meeting was held at the institute on Friday in the presence of IISER Mohali Director Anil K Tripathi, faculty members and students.

According to the police, the victim was under mental stress. No suicide note was found.

The police said they had initiated inquest proceedings under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and taken the deceased’s personal diary and phone into custody for investigation.

The incident comes weeks after the death of an 18-year-old Rohtak resident, Aadity Indora, whose body was found on the railway track near the institute on August 18. Sources said he was allegedly under stress due to poor grades in the first semester and was struggling to cope with the sudden transition from Hindi to English medium. Government Railway Police (GRP) officials have recorded the incident as a “railway accident” as no suicide note was found at the spot. Proceedings under Section 194 of the BNSS were initiated at the GRP station in Sirhind.

Responding to the development, IISER Mohali had issued a statement: “In addition to the existing psychological counselling, mentorship system and additional classes by senior students, the institute is introducing an academic counselling system to provide support to students who may need it.”