Tragedy struck The Kavery Engineering College in Mettur, Salem, when 21-year-old final-year student Kannan was found hanged in his hostel room on Saturday. The son of a daily wage worker from Yerakad, Kannan’s untimely death has sparked outrage and fear among peers.
Roommates grew concerned when Kannan didn’t emerge from his room by late morning. A glance through the window revealed the devastating scene: the young man suspended from the fan. Police from Mechery station were immediately informed, and after initial formalities, the body was transported to Salem Government Hospital for autopsy.
An FIR for suicide has been filed, and officers are probing angles including domestic discord or romantic setbacks. Kannan’s family arrived in distress, voicing strong doubts about the official narrative. They claimed the hasty removal of the body prevented them from seeing it firsthand, intensifying their call for a detailed inquiry.
Notably, this is the second such incident in the hostel within a year, prompting students to protest the administration’s oversight. ‘The pressure of studies, living away from home, and no one to talk to—it’s too much,’ shared one distraught classmate. Demands are growing for professional counselors and 24/7 support systems.
The college expressed sorrow and committed to immediate improvements in student mental health services. Yet, with accusations of lapses flying, tensions simmer as authorities delve deeper. This case highlights a disturbing trend of student suicides in Tamil Nadu’s engineering colleges, urging systemic reforms.
