IIT Bombay to replace ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans after student’s death

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IIT Bombay has initiated the replacement of ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans after the recent death of second year B-Tech student Sahil Wakode, sources familiar with the development said.

Sahil, a Department of Energy Science and Engineering student hailing from Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, was found dead in his hostel room on 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 examination.

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

The image of a batch of wall-mounted fans arriving at the campus as part of ‘renovation work’ has gone viral on social media.

NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande criticised the move, saying fan replacement cannot solve the student suicide crisis. Mr. Gawande questioned whether replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans could address the larger issue of student suicides, and called for greater focus on suicide prevention and mental health support.

“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 discussed the move to replace the fans after a student died in July, and the issue gained renewed attention after Sahil’s death last week.

Gawande said more than 117 students had died at IITs over the last 20 years.

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