The quiet corridors of IIT Roorkee’s hostels carried a heavy silence this week after a second-year student was found dead in his room. Ayush Rajoria, 20, from Ghaziabad, was pursuing the BS-MS programme in Mathematics and Computing. The institute and local police confirmed the discovery late on the night of November 12.

Police said the room was locked from the inside when friends and security staff raised the alarm. A note recovered from the room referred to depression and an inability to find enjoyment in life, according to officers. It did not assign blame to anyone. Rajoria’s parents have not raised suspicions of foul play.

Institute officials informed the police that the student had been dealing with depression and attending counselling sessions at the campus wellness centre for a long period, more than a year in some accounts. The wellness centre offers free and confidential support for students facing anxiety, low mood, academic stress and other challenges.

IIT Roorkee released a brief statement expressing profound sadness over the untimely demise and confirmed full cooperation with the ongoing police investigation. The institute also said it is providing necessary support to the family.

In the days that followed, the administration postponed 70 examinations originally scheduled for Friday. The exams have been rescheduled for November 22, giving the campus community some space to process the loss.

This case lands against a backdrop of continued concern about student well-being across the IIT system. Official data and independent compilations over recent years have recorded dozens of student deaths by suicide or unnatural causes. Many students arrive with high expectations and face intense academic pressure, isolation from family, and the weight of future career stakes.

Campus wellness centres and counselling services have expanded in response, yet the gap between available support and the actual needs of students remains a frequent topic among faculty, parents and current students. Early identification of distress, reduced stigma around seeking help, and stronger peer and mentor networks are often cited as areas that still need strengthening.

For parents sending children to residential campuses and for students preparing for or already navigating these rigorous programmes, the incident serves as a reminder that academic excellence and emotional health must travel together. Access to timely, non-judgmental support can make a real difference when the pressure builds.

Police investigations into the circumstances continue. The institute has urged the community to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.