A 20-year-old student of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, on Tuesday took his own life at his hostel building in the Kandi campus located within the Sangareddy rural limits. The police have identified the deceased as Siddharth Pichikala, a third-year student of Computer Science Engineering (CSE). This is the third such case this year reported from the campus.
According to the police, he jumped off the hostel building around 3.30 a.m, after sending an email to his friend. Friends and security staff of the hostel rushed him to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The student’s body was then shifted to Gandhi Hospital for autopsy.
In the email to his friend, Siddharth, who was a resident of Hyderabad, allegedly stated that he is taking his life since he was lagging behind in studies and was afraid of failing in making a career for himself.
Speaking to TNM, Sangareddy Rural Sub-Inspector Satish said, "In the mail to a friend, he said that he has learnt many things in the last 20 years of his life and does not want to live anymore, since he is not satisfied with his academic performance. Though he was rushed to the hospital, he died while undergoing treatment."
The student’s body has been handed over to his parents following a postmortem.
The police have registered a case and started investigation and a case of suspicious death has been registered. Further probe is underway.
This is the third incident at IIT Hyderabad where a student has taken his own life. In February, a third-year student, Anirudhya Mummaneni, had ended his life. Earlier in July, Mark Andrew Charles (20), a second-year masters student from Uttar Pradesh killed himself in hostel room; in his suicide note, he had said he was unhappy with his academic performance.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers:
Tamil Nadu:
State health department suicide helpline number - 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in TN
Telangana:
Telangana government suicide prevention toll free no - 104
Roshni- 040-66202000, 6620200SEVA- 09441778290, 040 - 27504682 (between 9 AM and 7 PM)
Karnataka:
Sahai : 24-hour helpline numbers: 080- 65000111, 080-65000222
Kerala:
Maithri helpline - 0484-2540530
Chaithram helpline: 0484-2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Andhra Pradesh:
Life Suicide Prevention Helpline No.78930-78930
Roshni Helpline 1: 9166202000 Helpline 2: 9127848584