# IIT Bombay to replace ceiling fans after student suicide 2026-09-22T08:02:35+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets IIT Bombay is replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted units in hostels after the suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode, sources said. Wakode, 22, from Yavatmal district, was found hanging in his hostel room on September 18. The institute had discussed the change after a previous suicide in July. The move has drawn criticism. NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gavande questioned whether changing fans addresses the larger issue of student suicides, noting that over 117 students have died by suicide at IITs in the last two decades. The institute called the replacement part of a renovation project. Wakode's father has alleged harassment and caste-based discrimination. Mumbai Police registered a case against Professor Suryanarayana Doolla under the SC/ST Act and abetment of suicide provisions. IIT Bombay removed Doolla as Dean of Administrative Affairs. The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum has backed Doolla. The investigation continues. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All three sources report the fan replacement and the criticism factually, but gulfnews.com adds substantial context missing from the others: the faculty protest supporting the accused professor, the student who rejected caste discrimination claims, and the police investigation details. NDTV and Rediff treat it as a narrower campus-response story. The balanced reading is that the fan replacement is a visible but possibly symbolic measure, while the deeper issues of mental health support, academic pressure, and alleged discrimination remain unresolved. The Crime Branch investigation and the family's allegations will determine whether institutional accountability follows. ## Coverage - ndtv.com (neutral report) Reports the fan replacement as a renovation project amid heightened sensitivity - rediff.com (neutral report) Reports the measure as controversial, includes criticism and statistics - gulfnews.com (neutral report) Provides detailed background including protests, police case, faculty division Tags: Anish Gavande, hostel safety, IIT Bombay, mental health, Sahil Wakode, student suicide Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/iit-bombay-to-replace-ceiling-fans-after-student-suicide/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/iit-bombay-to-replace-ceiling-fans-after-student-suicide/#story-in-brief