IIT Bombay replaces ceiling fans with wall fans after the death of a student

Faculty members of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Bombay) hold a march on the institute’s campus in support of Suryanarayan Doolla, who was removed as dean of administrative affairs amid student protests over the suicide of a 22-year-old student in Mumbai on September 21, 2026 | Photo credit: PTI

IIT Bombay has started replacing ceiling fans with wall fans following the recent death of second-year B-Tech student Sahil Wakode, sources familiar with the development said.

Sahil, a student of the Department of Energy Sciences and Engineering hailing from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, was found dead in his hostel room at the Powai campus on Friday (September 18, 2026) evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester exam.

“The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay) is set to remove ceiling fans from the hostels following the recent incidents of student deaths,” sources said. “Wall fans will be installed in all dormitories on campus and in other utility areas throughout campus.”

A picture of a group of wall fans arriving on campus as part of “renovation works” has gone viral on social media.

NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande criticized the move and said that exchanging fans cannot solve the student suicide crisis. Mr Gawande questioned whether replacing ceiling fans with wall fans could solve the larger problem of student suicides and called for a greater focus on suicide prevention and mental health promotion.

“Does IIT Bombay really think that replacing ceiling fans with wall fans will solve the problem affecting IITs across the country?” Gawande said.

The institute had been discussing a move to replace the fans after a student died in July, and the issue received renewed attention following Sahil’s death last week.

Gawande said that over 117 students have died at IIT in the last 20 years.

(Help to overcome suicidal thoughts is available on the state health line 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha on the suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

Published – 22 Sep 2026 12:07 IST