IIT Bhubaneswar PhD scholar dies after falling from the sixth-floor balcony of Brahmaputra Hall on May 9, 2026 , the institute said.
The deceased has been identified as Tanikonda Nishant Kumar, a PhD research scholar in the department of electrical engineering and a native of Andhra Pradesh. The incident happened at around 3:30 pm on Saturday in A block of Brahmaputra Hall on the campus.
IIT Bhubaneswar PhD scholar dies: how the incident unfolded
An on-duty security guard found Kumar unconscious on the ground below the sixth floor balcony and immediately took him to the campus medical facility, Sanjeevan Hospital, for emergency care. Following the attending physician's advice, the institute arranged an ambulance to move him to a private hospital for advanced treatment.
Medical staff at the private hospital declared the student dead on arrival, the institute said. Authorities notified local police, who have begun investigating the circumstances of the fall.
IIT Bhubaneswar PhD scholar dies: official response and investigation
The institute issued a statement confirming the death and said police are probing the incident. Officials have not released further details on motive, witness accounts beyond the security guard, CCTV footage, or the results of any forensic examinations.
There is no public information yet about the student’s academic progress, personal circumstances, or any prior campus incidents related to hostel safety.
Immediate impact and available support
Students and campus residents concerned about mental health or distress can seek support. AASRA can be contacted at 9820466726 and iCALL at 9152987821 for counselling and emotional support.
No further official updates on the investigation or autopsy findings have been released. The institute and police did not provide timelines for next steps or public statements from family, faculty, or student groups at the time of reporting.
Careful handling of facts remains important while the probe continues. Authorities have asked that details emerging from the investigation be treated as provisional until confirmed by the police or the institute.