IIT Bombay is replacing ceiling fans in hostel rooms with wall-mounted units.
The Indian Institute of Technology initiated the move to replace the fans after a student died by suicide in July, but the issue gained renewed attention following 22-year-old Sahil’s death. Gavande said more than 117 students had died by suicide at IITs over the last 20 years. (With inputs from PTI) You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mumbai | Silver Rate in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Petrol Price in Mumbai | Diesel Price in Mumbai | CNG Price in Mumbai | LPG Price in Mumbai Stay updated with the latest Mumbai news.
MUMBAI: IIT Bombay has initiated the replacement of ceiling fans in hostel rooms with wall-mounted fans, sources said, adding that the move predates the death by suicide of BTech student Sahil Wakode last week. Replacement of the fans is part of routine renovation and maintenance work at the prestigious institute, the sources said. The institute started installing wall-mounted fans in place of ceiling fans across hostels as part of a routine refurbishment plan that had been previously considered, they said. NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gavande said replacement of fans cannot solve the student suicide crisis. Gavande said.
An image of several wall-mounted fans arriving at the institute’s campus as part of ‘renovation work’ has gone viral on social media. Wall-mounted fans will be installed across all hostels on campus and in other utility areas across the campus. Gavande questioned whether replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans could address the larger issue of student suicides and called for greater focus on suicide prevention and mental health support. “Does IIT Bombay really think that replacing ceiling fans with wall fans will solve the suicide problem affecting IITs across the country? Download the TOI App.
Sahil, a student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on Friday evening after he was caught allegedly using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination.