HYDERABAD: In a devastating turn of events, a 20-year-old student of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad met a tragic end by allegedly ending his life. The young man, identified as Dhanavath Karthik, was found drowned in the sea near Visakhapatnam on July 20. As investigations unfolded, it was revealed that the student had been grappling with severe depression, primarily stemming from academic backlogs that proved overwhelming for him to handle.
Karthik's journey toward this heart-rending incident began when he was unable to cope with the pressure of clearing two backlogs in his examinations. His struggle to concentrate on his studies at the IIT-Hyderabad campus eventually led him to leave the premises and return to his hometown in Nalgonda district, Telangana. Distraught and burdened, he made his way to Visakhapatnam, where his life took a tragic turn.
The timeline of events reveals the extent of Karthik's despair. On July 17, he was reported missing from his hostel room at IIT-Hyderabad, prompting immediate concern among the authorities who filed a missing case two days later. As the investigation progressed, it was discovered that his cell phone's last known location was at Ramakrishna Beach (RK Beach) in Visakhapatnam on July 19. CCTV footage showed him walking into the danger zone of the beach, ultimately leading to his fateful end in the sea.
The distressing incident sheds light on the challenges faced by students in the highly competitive academic environment of prestigious institutions like IIT. The burden of academic performance and the fear of failure can sometimes push vulnerable individuals into the depths of despair. It underscores the importance of mental health support and awareness in educational institutions to help students cope with stress and emotional struggles effectively.
Karthik's tragic story serves as a grim reminder of the need for a sensitive and empathetic approach towards students' mental well-being. Academic institutions must foster an environment that encourages open dialogue about mental health issues and provides adequate resources for counseling and support. This tragedy should prompt a collective effort from the education system, families, and society at large to ensure that no student feels overwhelmed and isolated in their academic journey.
The untimely demise of Dhanavath Karthik, a promising student of IIT-Hyderabad, serves as a poignant reminder of the perils of untreated depression and academic pressure. This heart-wrenching incident calls for greater awareness and support for students' mental health to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
ALSO WATCH: