Representative image showing a dead body.
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Multiple probe committees have been set up over the death of two B.Tech students at the Indian Institute of Information Technology in Ahmedabad—Rahul Chaitanya and Katravath Akhil—within a span of few hours, an Indian Express report said.
Akhil, a second-year B.Tech student from Telangana’s Rangareddy district, passed away on March 29 evening while he was being treated for a suspected cardiac arrest. Meanwhile, Chaitanya allegedly jumped off the building of the institute just a few hours later on March 30, the publication added.
The report, quoting Chaitanya’s father, said, “He was a brilliant student, so we cannot accept that he committed suicide due to fear of failing in studies. He studied in normal schools and always scored above 70 per cent.”
Massive student protests have erupted within and outside the campus, wherein the students blame the institute of negligence.
The report quoting officials further stated that Rahul was the only student with a hearing and speech impairment out of the 72 students with disabilities at the institute in total.
These students are usually allotted rooms in the ground floor.
Akhil and Rahul were close friends, as mentioned by officials from the institute, who spoke on condition of anonymity. They also mentioned that Akhil would often assist Rahul by interpreting sign language, the report added.
The publication further quoting a college official as saying, “Rahul was deeply shocked upon learning about Akhil’s death on Saturday evening. One tragedy may have led to another. We are awaiting the inquiry report.”
The report further stated that Rahul had previously expressed his fears of falling behind academically to his family.
Thus, Rahul's father Krishna said that he does not believe that there is any link between the two deaths.
Quoting Krishna, the report stated, “Akhil’s situation worsened on March 29 when he was taken to a local private hospital, where he died around 8 pm of cardiac failure. This was not informed to the institute by the hospital until the next day. So, Rahul and Akhil were not aware of each other’s death.”
Rahul’s family hails from Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district and runs an eatery in Satyanarayanapuram village.
His father revealed that Rahul had called his mother at 11:48 am on March 29. He further said, “He is speech impaired but brilliant. He uses sign language and has conveyed (to us) that he was unable to understand some subjects properly and there was no help for impaired students like him… He was upset that he was falling behind in his studies… I had once told him to take a transfer and leave the institute, but he said he would try harder.”
“We received a call informing us about the incident at 12:20 am,” the publication mentioned his father Krishna.
Akhil’s friend Naveen said that the deceased's parents demanded accountability from the institute, as he was their only child and also claimed that the college did not take care of their child after he fell ill.
Ajendra Yadav, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj said that no FIR has been registered in connection with two deaths, and he families have also not submitted a police complaint so far, the publication added.
The ACP said, “The bodies were handed over to their families after the postmortem, and they left with them. The institute is conducting its own inquiry, and a case will be registered if a formal complaint is filed.”
The autopsy reports have stated that Rahul passed away due to a hemorrhagic shock, and Akhil died of septic shock and multiple organ failure.
The institute further stated that in the past three months, Rahul had been irregular to classes and had skipped three of his six exams.
Akhil, on the other hand, passed away after being taken to the hospital for an MRI. He had complained of back and leg pain after returning from a three-day sports meet of IIITs in Gwalior held on March 2. Akhil played Kabaddi there, the report added citing sources.
Quoting another college official, the publication said, “Initially, he visited the institute-run health centre, which has three doctors and supporting staff. After an examination, the doctors prescribed medication, suspecting a spinal injury. However, when his condition did not improve, he was referred the following day to a local private hospital empanelled by the institute.”
Akhil was recommended to be hospitalized on March 25, and later it was discovered that he was suffering from a severe chest infection.
Akhil was rushed to a hospital on March 28 after his condition worsened and he fainted on the way to MRI. He passed away on March 29, while still under treatment, the report added.
Rahul was depressed and unable to cope with the academic pressure as he was not given a sign language instructor, alleged the protesting students.
They also alleged that medical negligence was the reason behind Akhil’s death, the report said.
Quoting O P Vyas, a senior professor, the publication said, “Committees have been formed for the inquiry, and a timeline has been set to complete the investigation within the stipulated period. Meetings have been scheduled accordingly.”
The senior professor further added once the detailed report is submitted, appropriate action would be taken.