Surat University Installs Anti‑Suicide Fans in Hostels After Student Deaths
· India · Indian Express, The Independent
Veer Narmad South Gujarat University in Surat is replacing all 388 ceiling fans in its five girls' and four boys' hostels with spring‑loaded anti‑suicide fans that lower the blade when a load over 10‑25 kg is detected. Vice‑Chancellor Dr K N Chavda said 268 of the special fans have already been installed, including 158 in girls' hostels and 110 in boys' hostels. The university placed an order for 375 units through the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM) portal after a recent suicide by a medical postgraduate student in Surat spurred campus safety concerns. The anti‑suicide fan system, first mandated in Kota after 23 student suicides in 2023, includes a built‑in alarm in some cases. The move comes amid renewed focus on campus mental‑health safety in Gujarat.
Why it matters
Students and families at VNSGU now have a physical safeguard against hanging suicides, potentially reducing the risk of self‑harm in dormitories. The installation also signals a shift toward preventive infrastructure in Indian university housing as institutions grapple with rising mental‑health challenges. Families of the deceased medical student, whose father filed an FIR against senior doctors, may view the fan upgrades as part of a broader accountability push for campus safety.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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