Student found dead at BITS Pilani Goa campus; sixth such case in two years

A 20-year-old engineering student was found dead in her hostel room at the BITS Pilani Goa campus in South Goa late Sunday night, police said on Monday. The incident marks the sixth reported case of a student suicide on the campus in the past two years, raising renewed concerns over academic stress and student wellbeing.

The deceased, identified as Vishnavi Jitesh, was a third-year Electronics and Communication Engineering student and a native of Bengaluru. According to police, the Verna police station received an alert around 11.30 pm following which officers reached the hostel and conducted preliminary inquiries. An inquest has been registered, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death. Police have said no foul play has been suspected at this stage.

The issue of student suicides at the institute had earlier been raised during the recent winter session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, where Chief Minister Pramod Sawant attributed such incidents to pressure related to examinations and academics.

While BITS Pilani has counselling and student support mechanisms in place, the institute has not yet issued an official statement on the latest incident. The delay has prompted calls from education experts and policymakers for a review of campus mental health services, stronger counselling frameworks, and a comprehensive safety and wellness audit to address academic stress and improve early intervention for students in distress.