BITS Goa reports second student suicide this year; PhD scholar found dead in Verna

A 26-year-old PhD scholar from Kerala was found dead at a rented accommodation in Verna, marking the institution’s second student suicide this year. South Goa collector Egna Cleetus confirmed the preliminary finding as a suicide, with police investigation and postmortem awaited. The district official attributed the ongoing series of suicides to a 'suicide contagion' or cluster effect. The article also notes a campus response including increased mental health support and efforts to reduce academic pressure.

The directorate of health services conducted a medical camp; awareness sessions on stress management and emotional resilience were held subsequently.

A district-level monitoring committee constituted to review earlier suicide incidents submitted its report to the government identifying gaps in mental health infrastructure on campus, including an inadequate number of mental healthcare professionals.

The article notes that last year (2025) there were four similar student suicides at BITS Pilani Goa Campus.