IIT Delhi Students Protest After Eighth Campus Death, Demand Independent Inquiry
Students at IIT Delhi boycotted classes and staged a protest following the death of MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar, the eighth such incident on campus in 30 months, calling for accountability and systemic changes.
New Delhi1 min read
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Students at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi staged a rare protest and boycotted classes on 24 August 2026 after the death of 31-year-old MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar.
Kumar died on 22 August after falling from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex. Delhi Police received a PCR call at approximately 8.33 am. He was taken to the institute hospital and declared dead on arrival. Police are investigating the circumstances.
Nearly 300 students gathered at the Lecture Hall Complex. They submitted a note to Director Rangan Banerjee stating that students should not be expected to return to the building as if nothing had happened. “The system needs to take a pause,” the note said.
Protesters alleged administrative lapses and pointed to a pattern of eight student deaths by suicide on the campus over the past 30 months. They demanded an independent inquiry that includes student representatives, the resignation of the Dean and Associate Deans of Student Affairs and the Head of the Physics Department, and Rs 1 crore compensation for Kumar’s family.
Students said Kumar had faced difficulties with hostel accommodation after a period of treatment at VIMHANS and was living off campus, adding to financial pressure. They also raised concerns about access to academic projects and mental health support protocols.
In response, the institute constituted a five-member external panel led by former Uttarakhand DGP and IIT Delhi alumnus Ashok Kumar. Other members include the head of the psychiatry department at AIIMS New Delhi, two student representatives, and the institute Registrar as secretary. The panel has two weeks to submit its report.
Director Rangan Banerjee informed the campus community that the institute would reimburse medical expenses and provide funding from the benevolent fund for the family, and would create a separate voluntary fund with contributions from faculty, students and staff.
Classes scheduled for 24 August were cancelled. The protest is one of the most visible internal reckonings at the institution over mental health pressures and institutional response.