{
  "id": 13357543,
  "title": "IIT Bombay, Kota, Cornell, NYU: Are ‘anti-suicide’ fans, nets enough to prevent student suicides?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/iit-bombay-kota-cornell-nyu-are-anti-suicide-fans-nets-enough-to",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-10T07:31:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/education/iit-bombay-hostel-wall-mounted-fans-swap-sahil-wakode-kota-jee-coaching-student-suicides-mental-health-debate-10914364/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A box of wall-mounted fans arrives at a Mumbai hostel, sparking a national debate about hostel infrastructure and student mental health. IIT Bombay's decision to replace ceiling fans with wall-mounted units in its hostels is seen as a reaction to the death of a second-year BTech student, Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide in late September. The fans are criticized as 'Band-Aid measures' by many. The Kota suicide crisis, which saw 25 students die by suicide in 2023, saw the administration order the installation of spring-loaded 'anti-suicide' fans and nets around balconies and lobbies. Rajasthan's committee blamed mental pressure, competition, parental expectations, lack of counselling, and monotony for the crisis. Cornell University followed a similar path after a series of student suicides in 2009-10, installing permanent barriers and fencing on bridges and cliffs after recommendations from consultants. Harvard's 'Means Matter' guidelines suggest restricting access to lethal means as one strategy within a comprehensive approach, but experts warn that such measures are not a solution in themselves.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "IIT Bombay replaces ceiling fans with wall-mounted units in hostels.",
    "Kota administration installs anti-suicide fans and nets after 25 student deaths in 2023.",
    "Cornell University installs barriers after student suicides in 2009-10."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}