VASCO
In a shocking and tragic development, yet another student was found dead at the BITS Pilani Goa campus on Thursday, marking the fifth death of a student at the prestigious institution in nine months.
Verna police are carrying out investigations to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of Rishi Nair (20). Authorities have maintained that all angles are being probed, given the spate of cases that have shaken the institution.
Sources informed that the deceased student was not an original student of BITS Pilani Goa campus and had arrived based on a transfer request from the BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus.
“He is a second-year student who had come from BITS Pilani campus Hyderabad. He arrived here in the first week of August and he was from Bangalore. He was a second-year student in MSc Physics after finishing his first year in BITS Pilani Hyderabad. The management has explained the entire story to the police who are taking the statements of the parents,” said a source.
“Another source added that the deceased boy may have been facing some issues pertaining to depression and his parents had requested for a transfer of college from BITS Pilani Hyderabad to BITS Pilani Goa campus.”
“The parents were trying to call the son in the morning but the calls were unanswered. The concerned parents then contacted the management who directed the warden of the hostel to open the door of the room, only to find the student dead on his bed,” the source added.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a disturbing series of student deaths reported at the BITS Pilani Goa campus within 9 months.
In December 2024, second-year BE Computer Science and MSc Chemistry student, Om Priyan Singh, died by suicide. Just three months later, Atharv Desai, a third-year dual-degree student, also ended his life in March.
The pattern of tragedies continued in May, when Krishna Kasera, a second-year dual-degree student (MSc Chemistry & BE Electrical & Instrumentation), was found dead. His family raised suspicions of foul play, demanding a thorough probe.
In August, Kushagra Jain, a third-year Economics and Computer Science student, was discovered dead in his hostel room. The case was initially registered as an unnatural death. However, a toxicology report later confirmed the presence of medicine in his body, prompting further investigation while police awaited chemical analysis.
Now, with the death of Rishi Nair, concern has deepened over what appears to be a grim trend at one of India’s most reputed institutions.
The recurring tragedies have sparked urgent questions about campus safety, student mental health, and the level of support systems in place.
While police are yet to release a conclusive report, parents, students, and alumni are expressing shock and demanding accountability.
The BITS Pilani community, already grappling with grief, finds itself confronted once again with an unsettling loss. Authorities have assured that every aspect of the case will be thoroughly examined as they deal with the fifth student death in 9 months.
