Mumbai, September 22: The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has initiated the process of removing ceiling fans from its hostels and installing wall-mounted fans across student residences and other utility areas on the Powai campus. Sources familiar with the development confirmed that the first consignment of the new wall-mounted fans, largely of the Atomberg brand, has already reached the campus and installation work is expected to begin shortly. The institute has described the replacement as part of ongoing hostel renovation and infrastructure upgrades, though the decision has drawn attention because of its proximity to recent student deaths.
The immediate backdrop is the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering who hailed from Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. Wakode was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room on the evening of September 18. The discovery came hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. Institute officials have stated that no formal disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him and that he was counselled and given assurances that the incident would not affect his academic record. His parents and some students have alleged that he faced pressure and the threat of suspension after being taken out of the examination hall. The Mumbai Crime Branch is examining CCTV footage from the examination hall, the campus and the hostel as part of its investigation.
Discussions on replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted units had been under consideration for nearly two months, following the suicide of another student on the campus in July. The latest death brought the proposal to a final decision. Student representatives have confirmed the arrival of the new fans but have continued to press for deeper institutional changes. In a collective statement they said they do not condone academic misconduct of any kind, yet the loss of their fellow student has compelled them to examine longstanding systems and processes within the institute. They have called for meaningful reforms and greater accountability so that no other student is placed in similar circumstances.
Campus unrest has remained visible. On September 21 large numbers of students gathered at the main gate for a candlelight vigil and demonstration. Director Shireesh Kedare held a three-hour late-night meeting with the protesters during which a list of 18 demands was discussed and signed. Faculty members separately staged a march in support of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was relieved of his position as Dean of Administrative Affairs. Students described the demand for his temporary removal as a precautionary measure intended to safeguard the independence of the ongoing investigation rather than an act of personal targeting.
The fan replacement has attracted criticism from outside the campus as well. NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gavande questioned whether substituting wall-mounted fans for ceiling fans could address the wider problem of student suicides that has affected the IIT system for years. Public discourse has repeatedly cited figures indicating that more than 117 students have died by suicide across the IITs over the past two decades. Observers and activists have argued that academic pressure, insufficient mental-health support, isolation and a high-stakes competitive culture require sustained attention beyond physical alterations to hostel fittings.
As the installation of the new fans proceeds, attention remains fixed on whether the current step forms part of a larger package of welfare measures or remains limited to an infrastructure change. The institute has not yet released a detailed public roadmap for mental-health reforms, leaving students, parents and commentators to assess the adequacy of the response in the weeks ahead.