Engineer in Mid-20s Found Dead at IIT Madras, Suicide Suspected

"The police is investigating the incident and the Institute is cooperating with the authorities," IIT Madras said.

A 22-year-old engineer was found dead at IIT Madras campus.

(Photo: PTI)

An engineer in his mid-twenties was found dead at the IIT Madras campus late on Thursday, 1 July, with the police suspecting it to be a case of suicide.

The man, identified as Unnikrishnan, was working on a project at the institute and left a note saying he was unable to cope with the work, the police said.

“On July 1 at 6.15 pm, Dr Raju, a sports officer, came to the hockey field with his teammates and saw the body of an unidentified man lying half-thrown on the field,” the police said in a statement issued on 2 July.

IIT Madras, in a statement issued on Friday, said, "An unfortunate and tragic incident occurred yesterday at IIT Madras Campus, involving a temporary project staff. The project staff whose body was found had joined the Institute in April 2021 and was living outside the campus. We are shocked and deeply grieved, and convey our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the departed soul. The police is investigating the incident and the Institute is fully cooperating with the authorities."

The Kotturpuram Police is investigating the matter. The body has been sent to the Government Royapettah Hospital for autopsy.

According to the police, Unnikrishnan was a native of Ernakulam in Kerala, and was residing outside campus with two other persons. Police sources claim that he left an 11-page suicide note outlining stress at the workplace. The note reportedly did not have a reference to any individual in particular.

The police have registered a case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (investigation into a case of suicide).