I saw him in the mess that night, and he seemed absolutely fine. The next time I saw him, he was dead. His body had turned bluish and there was vomit on the floor. It didnt look like a suicide, said one of hostel mates of Ayush Singhal, a student who was found dead in his Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi hostel room on Wednesday. Ayush, 25, was a second-year PhD scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, enrolled in the Biomedical Engineering programme. According to police, he had not been seen or heard from since Monday night. Institute officials confirmed that he was a resident of Dronagiri hostel and originally from Chandigarh. A staff member of the Biomedical Engineering department at IIT Delhi said, He was a very cheerful person. He used to come to me to mark his attendance and would always ask how I was doing. I am deeply shocked by his sudden death, The laboratory for Biomedical Engineering students, located in Block 1 and numbered 313, was locked from the outside. When asked about the closure, a security guard posted nearby said, The lab has been closed for two days. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Amit Goel said that the incident does not appear to be a suicide. There were no visible external injuries on the body, but vomit was found on the floor, suggesting a possible medical complication. The Crime and Forensic Teams were called to the scene for further examination. Details will be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received, he said. When asked about any signs of foul play or suspicion, the officer said, Neither the family nor his friends have raised any doubts about anyone. The Kishangarh police station received a PCR call reporting that the student had not responded to repeated knocks on his door. The Station House Officer (SHO) and local police staff reached the hostel and found the door locked from the inside. Fire department personnel were called to assist, and the door was forcibly opened. Ayush was found unconscious on his bed and was declared dead by IIT Delhis medical staff who arrived at the scene. According to the preliminary police investigation, Ayush had dinner on Monday and returned to his room, after which no one saw him. When he failed to respond throughout the next day, his fellow students alerted the security staff, who then contacted the police. Following the necessary legal procedures, the body was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination, said the officer. IIT Delhi officials expressed grief over the incident and extended their condolences. On Wednesday evening, Dean of Student Affairs, Professor BK Panigrahi, wrote in an email to students: With a very heavy heart, it is our unfortunate duty to inform you of the tragic and untimely demise of our student Ayush Singhal, a resident of Dronagiri hostel and a second-year research scholar at the Centre for Biomedical Engineering. His body was found in his room, and the police have taken custody of the mortal remains. While we try to come to terms with this painful loss, the grief experienced by his family and friends is unimaginable. His family is expected to arrive today. A condolence meeting will be scheduled by the Registrar in due course. This difficult time reminds us of the importance of supporting one another. Please do not hesitate to access the various counselling avenues available on campus. Faculty and administration are also here to support you in any way possible, Panigrahi added.

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