Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 4: A tragic pattern of student deaths continues to plague the BITS Pilani Goa campus, with a fifth suspected suicide in less than a year. The latest incident involves 20-year-old Rishi Nair, who was found dead in his hostel room.

This latest tragedy follows four other student deaths since December 2024:

• Om Priyan Singh, a second-year student, died by suicide in December 2024.

• Atharv Desai, a third-year student, died in March 2025.

• Krishna Kasera, a 20-year-old dual degree student, was found dead in his room in May 2025, with his family raising concerns about the circumstances of his death.

• Kushagra Jain, also 20, was found unresponsive in his hostel room in August 2025.

In response to these heartbreaking events, former Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai had previously called on the institute for a report and a plan of action. The campus submitted a report in May and outlined several measures to address the crisis, including a curriculum overhaul, more flexible exam schedules, and new courses focused on wellness and stress management. The university also committed to reviewing its student support systems.