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IIT Delhi Launches Independent Probe After MSc Physics Student Death

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has ordered an external investigation following student protests over the death of an MSc Physics student. Campus unrest centres on allegations that a faculty member denied hostel accommodation to the deceased despite his mental health struggles.

LSN India · 25 August 2026

Students at IIT Delhi have launched protests on campus demanding accountability following the death of an MSc Physics student. The demonstrations have intensified calls for action against Prof Sreedevi, with protesters alleging that she repeatedly denied hostel accommodation to the deceased student despite his documented mental health challenges.

The student's requests for on-campus housing were reportedly rejected multiple times, with demonstrators contending that denial of accommodation exacerbated his psychological difficulties. Campus sources indicate the student had been struggling with mental health issues during his academic tenure at the institute.

In response to the protests, IIT Delhi's administration has constituted an external panel to conduct an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student's death and the institutional decisions that preceded it. The move signals the institute's commitment to examining the matter thoroughly and determining what institutional failures, if any, may have contributed to the tragedy.

The incident has reignited broader conversations about student mental health support systems and hostel accommodation policies at India's premier engineering institutions. Student welfare committees at IIT Delhi are expected to review existing protocols for identifying and assisting students experiencing psychological distress.