A 22-year-old MBBS student was found dead inside his hostel room at a private medical college in Durgapur, West Bengal, late Saturday night, leaving his family searching for answers as police await the post-mortem report to determine the exact cause of death. The incident has triggered shock on campus and raised questions about communication and student welfare responsibilities.
The deceased, identified as Lavanya Pratap, was a first-year medical student from Patna, Bihar. According to family members, concern arose after repeated phone calls from home went unanswered. His friends were contacted and reportedly broke open the locked hostel room door, where they found him hanging. Police from Durgapur police station arrived at the college after being informed and recovered the body from the room.
Authorities took the body into custody and later sent it for post-mortem examination. By Sunday, the campus atmosphere remained subdued as students and staff grappled with the tragedy while investigators began examining the circumstances surrounding the death.
Lavanya’s father, Anil Kumar, has accused the college administration of failing to promptly inform the family about the incident. He alleged that relatives learned about the situation only after reaching out to the student’s friends when their calls went unanswered. Kumar questioned whether adequate responsibility was exercised by the institution toward students living away from home, stating that such students rely heavily on colleges for safety and emotional support.
The family also claimed that the student had been under significant academic stress. According to his father, Lavanya had recently received examination results that caused distress, allegedly scoring around 50 marks in the written component but receiving only five marks in the practical examination. He had reportedly applied for a re-evaluation of the practical marks, and his next examination was scheduled for March 19. Kumar further alleged that certain interactions with teachers may have contributed to his son’s mental pressure, though these claims have not been independently verified.
Police officials said a detailed investigation is underway. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Gupta stated that investigators will record statements from family members once they arrive and will examine all possible factors, including academic pressure and personal circumstances. Classmates have so far declined to speak publicly about the incident.
There has been no official statement from the college or hospital administration regarding the allegations. Sources indicated that the institution informed police about the incident via email.
Police are currently treating the case as a suspected suicide, pending confirmation through medical examination. Officials said the findings of the post-mortem report will be crucial in determining the precise cause of death as the investigation continues.
