The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has started replacing ceiling fans in its hostels with wall-mounted fans. The move has attracted attention after the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode, who was found dead in his hostel room on September 18, 2026.
Sahil Wakode was a student of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. Reports said he was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his hostel room at the Powai campus. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, while the Crime Branch is examining CCTV footage and other evidence to reconstruct his final movements.
The incident followed an examination in which Sahil was reportedly found using a mobile phone. According to reports, the institute said he had used the phone during a mid-semester examination. Some reports said the phone was used to access ChatGPT for help with the examination. The institute has maintained that no formal disciplinary action had been taken against him at the time.
IIT Bombay has now begun bringing wall-mounted fans to the campus, with the first batch reportedly arriving. However, institute officials have said that the replacement is part of a broader hostel renovation plan and was not introduced specifically because of Sahil’s death. The replacement had reportedly been under consideration for around two months and was also among measures discussed after an earlier student death in July.
The decision has nevertheless led to debate about whether changing the type of fan can address the larger concerns surrounding student well-being. NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande questioned the move and argued that infrastructure changes alone cannot address the deeper issues associated with student distress and suicides.
The debate has also grown following protests by IIT Bombay students. Students have raised concerns about institutional systems and called for reforms and stronger support mechanisms. The institute has since agreed to an 18-point student charter covering several issues related to student welfare and institutional functioning.
The incident has brought renewed attention to student suicides across the IIT system. According to data cited from the Ministry of Education, 39 students died by suicide across IITs between 2018 and 2023. Other datasets covering longer periods have reported higher numbers of unnatural student deaths, although the figures differ depending on the period and definition used.
Mental health and academic pressure have also become major areas of discussion. A 2026 interim report of a Supreme Court-appointed task force identified factors including academic pressure, discrimination, financial stress, sexual harassment and examination-related setbacks as issues associated with student distress. It also highlighted gaps in mental-health training and support systems at higher educational institutions.
The controversy at IIT Bombay has therefore expanded beyond the replacement of ceiling fans. While the new wall-mounted fans are being installed as part of the institute’s renovation and safety measures, students, faculty members and others are continuing to discuss how educational institutions can provide stronger counselling, welfare and support systems for students facing academic or personal difficulties.