Tragedy Strikes RGUKT Campus Again: PUC Student Commits Suicide in Hostel Room
In a distressing turn of events, a first-year pre-university course (PUC) student from Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, Basara (commonly known as IIIT-Basara), tragically took his own life on Tuesday afternoon. This marks the fifth death reported from the RGUKT campus within the past year.
The 16-year-old student, Jadav Babloo, hailed from Narayankhed in Sangareddy and had joined the university only a week ago. His PUC classes had just commenced on Monday. According to the police, the student, belonging to the ST community, was feeling homesick and yearned to return to his hometown. From the day he arrived on campus, he felt isolated and endured a sense of loneliness. He confided in his cousin brother, a first-year engineering student at the same college, who tried to counsel him and highlight the advantages of being in the institute. Unfortunately, despite the efforts, Babloo remained depressed.
Tragically, at around 4 pm on Tuesday, his roommates discovered Babloo’s lifeless body hanging from the ceiling. No suicide note was found at the scene. College officials confirmed that moments prior to the incident, the student had been in conversation with his cousin brother, staying in contact until Tuesday afternoon. Following their conversation, Babloo retired to his room where he sadly took his own life.
The Basara campus has been marred by a series of tragic incidents. Earlier this year in June, two female first-year PUC students lost their lives within a span of 48 hours. The first student, Deepika, took her own life by hanging herself in the washroom, while the second student, Likitha, allegedly fell from the fourth floor during the early hours of the day. In December 2022, a second-year PUC Dalit student died by suicide in his hostel room, just three months after a first-year engineering student also died by suicide in a similar manner in August. The PUC classes had just commenced on Monday after a two-day orientation and counseling session at the campus.
This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for robust mental health support systems and mechanisms within educational institutions. It also draws attention to the challenges faced by students, particularly those who come from marginalized backgrounds, and emphasizes the significance of offering them adequate guidance and emotional support during their academic journey.
As investigations continue into this heartbreaking incident, it is imperative that steps are taken to create a safer and more inclusive environment for students on the RGUKT Basara campus. The welfare of students should remain a top priority, with effective mechanisms in place to address mental health concerns and prevent further tragedies. The authorities must work towards providing counseling services, establishing support networks, and fostering a strong sense of community amongst students. Only through such collective efforts can we hope to prevent future incidents and ensure the well-being of our young learners.
