NIT Kurukshetra Declares 17-Day ‘Break’ After Fourth Student Dies by Suicide
Kurukshetra, April 17, 2026 — A wave of grief and anger has engulfed the campus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, following the death of another student by suicide. The tragic incident marks the fourth such suspected suicide at the premier engineering institute in just two months, sparking massive student protests and raising critical questions about campus mental health and academic pressure.
In response to the escalating unrest and the tragedy, the NIT administration has abruptly announced a 17-day “preparatory holiday” for students starting Friday, shifting practical examinations to an online format.
The Latest Tragedy
The most recent victim has been identified as Diksha Dubey, a 20-year-old student hailing from Bihar. She was in her second year pursuing a B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
On Thursday, Diksha was found hanging inside her room in the girls’ hostel. Upon receiving the information, Kurukshetra University Police Station officials and a forensic team rushed to the scene. Her body was later shifted to the LNJP Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Professor Gian Bhushan, Public Relations In-charge at NIT Kurukshetra, noted that Diksha was performing well academically and expressed shock over the incident. Station House Officer Vishal Kumar confirmed that the family has been notified, adding, “So far, no foul play has been detected. We will proceed further after the forensic lab report.”
A Grim Timeline: Four Deaths in Two Months
Diksha’s death is the latest in a chilling and heartbreaking sequence of student suicides inside the NIT Kurukshetra hostels:
February 16: Angoth Shiva (19), a student from Telangana, allegedly died by suicide.
March 31: Pawan, a student from Nuh, Haryana, was found dead.
April 8: Priyanshu Verma (22) from Sirsa, Haryana, allegedly died by hanging.
Police officials investigating the previous cases have pointed to various stressors, including financial struggles, family problems, and online gaming debt, compounded by academic pressure.
Students Erupt in Protest
The repeated tragedies have shattered the campus, prompting hundreds of furious students to gather and protest against the administration on Thursday. The students are demanding accountability, improved mental health infrastructure, and a reduction in what they describe as immense academic stress.
“The main reason behind these suicides is academic stress,” a protesting student stated. “Health facilities here are inadequate. Holding grievance committee meetings after each incident does not solve the problem. There must be accountability.”
Students also voiced concerns regarding the lack of functional CCTV cameras and expressed fears of facing disciplinary action from the administration for speaking out.
Administrative Response
Facing intense backlash, the institute’s registrar issued a notification declaring a 17-day preparatory break. While theory exams will be conducted as per the original date sheet, practical exams will now be held online to give students space and time away from the campus environment.
NIT officials state that they are actively trying to strengthen student support systems. Faculty members have been directed to increase interactions, with specific professors assigned as “mentors” to groups of 20 students to monitor their well-being. Furthermore, a memorandum submitted by the protesting students early Friday morning is currently under review by the authorities.
