2 students from Telangana died hours apart at IIIT Allahabad, leaving one question: Were the deaths linked?

The deaths of the two B.Tech students within a span of four hours and subsequent allegations of negligence have prompted the institute to set up multiple probe committees.

“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 percent,” his father Krishna told The Indian Express.

According to officials, Akhil, a second-year B.Tech student from Telangana’s Rangareddy district, died on the evening of March 29 while undergoing treatment for a suspected cardiac arrest. Just four hours later, Chaithanya allegedly jumped to his death.

The deaths triggered protests on and outside the campus, with students blaming the institute of negligence. The families of the students joined the protests.

Officials from the institute who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed Rahul and Akhil were close friends, and that the latter would often assist him by interpreting sign language.

“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,” an official from the college said.

But Rahul’s family, which is originally from Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh and runs a local eatery in Satyanarayanapuram village, claims he had previously conveyed his fears of falling behind academically. His father Krishna said he does not believe the two deaths are linked.

“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,” Krishna claimed.

In Madgula in Telangana’s Rangareddy district, Akhil’s family and friends are also in shock. His parents Raju Naik and Devi are part-time teachers.

“Akhil is their only child,” said Akhil’s close friend Naveen. “They are demanding accountability from the institute, which failed to take care of him after he fell ill.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj, Ajendra Yadav said that no FIR had been registered in connection with the two deaths. “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,” he said, adding that the families have also not submitted a police complaint so far.

The deaths

According to autopsy reports, Rahul died due to hemorrhagic shock, while Akhil’s death was attributed to septic shock and multiple organ failure, the official said.

The institute, which has around 2,000 students, has five boys’ hostels and three girls’ hostels. While the boys’ hostels are near the campus, the girls’ hostels are inside.

According to officials, there are 72 students with disabilities at the institute, and Rahul was the only one with a hearing and speech impairment. Students with disabilities are usually allotted rooms on the ground floor.

Sources claim Rahul’s body was found in the five-storey boys’ hostel, located opposite the campus. He shared a room on the hostel’s second floor.

After his death, institute authorities claimed to have reviewed his records and found that he had been irregular to classes in the last three months and had skipped three of his six exams.

At Satyanarayanapuram village, Krishna claimed that his son had previously conveyed the challenges he faced at the university, frequently referring to his son in the present tense.

“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,” Krishna said, adding that Rahul had called his mother at 11:48 am on March 29.

“We received a call informing us about the incident at 12:20 am,” he said.

Rahul’s death came hours after Akhil died after being taken to the hospital for an MRI, recommended by a private hospital. According to sources, Akhil reported back and leg pain upon his return from a three-day sports meet of IIITs in Gwalior on March 2, where he played kabaddi.

“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,” an official from the institute said.

On March 25, doctors recommended that Akhil be hospitalised.

It was later discovered that he was suffering from a severe chest infection, and on March 28, as his condition worsened, Akhil was rushed to a private hospital, where he fainted while being taken for an MRI, eventually dying around 8 pm on March 29 while still in treatment.

Following the two deaths, students staged a protest alleging that while Akhil died of medical negligence, Rahul was depressed because he was not given a sign language instructor and could not cope with the academic pressure.

“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,” senior professor O P Vyas said, adding that appropriate action would be taken once the detailed report is submitted.

Rahul’s parents took their son’s body back to Krishna district to hold the last rites. Recounting his son’s last video call to his mother, his father said, “It seems he wanted to see his mother one last time before he jumped off that building.”