An 18-year-old student from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal, Utkarsh Mahadev Shingne, was found dead in a bathroom at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune on Monday morning. Police are investigating the incident as a potential suicide, citing academic stress as a possible cause.
Shingne, a first-year medical student, was from the Beed district in Maharashtra. According to Senior Police Inspector Satyajit Admane, Shingne was among a group of students from various colleges across the country who had gathered in Pune for a festival program at AFMC. “Our investigation so far suggests that he was under stress due to his academic pressures, and we believe this may have led to him taking his own life,†said Admane. The student was found in the common bathroom of the AFMC boys' hostel early on Monday morning, where the tragic incident took place.
According to police, Shingne had sent a suicide note via WhatsApp to his family members shortly before he took the fatal step. His family members discovered the message later in the morning, which led them to immediately inform the police. The Pune city police control room was alerted about the incident at around 6:15 AM, and a team from the Wanavdi Police Station swiftly reached the scene to investigate.
The body was taken to a hospital for postmortem to confirm the cause of death. In line with standard procedure, an accidental death report (ADR) was registered at the Wanavdi Police Station, and an investigation has been launched to understand the circumstances surrounding his death. Police are reviewing Shingne's communications, including messages and interactions with friends and family, to gain insight into his emotional and mental state prior to the incident.
Authorities are also seeking to confirm if there were any signs of bullying, peer pressure, or other external factors contributing to his distress. Shingne’s classmates and peers have expressed shock and sadness at the news, with many describing him as a dedicated and hardworking student who had a bright future ahead of him. This incident has sparked further discussions on the mental health challenges faced by students in high-pressure academic environments. Experts are calling for more awareness and support systems to address student mental health, especially in demanding courses like medicine.
