Depression drives UoH scholar to attempt suicide

​Hyderabad: In yet another incident, a 25-year-old research scholar of the University of Hyderabad attempted suicide by setting herself ablaze inside her hostel room on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The victim suffered around 50 per cent burn injuries and her condition is said to be critical.

The victim, identified as Nitu Das, a first-year PhD student with the Department of Plant Sciences, hails from Orissa. She joined the course during the last January session.

She set her clothes on fire and has reportedly shrieked for help after the fire engulfed her. Later with the fear for the life she went to the washroom and doused off the flames by squatting under a water tap.  She is working on ‘Cardiovascular Diseases’, and it is in the early stage of research, said her colleague. 

“A fellow student inside the hostel heard her hues and cries and alerted us. We immediately rushed her to Health Centre, which is located inside the campus.    

As per the duty doctor’s advice, we shifted her to Care Hospital and from there to Osmania General Hospital. She was crying all the night, and when the doctors asked on how she immolated herself, she gave vague answers,” said Kuldeep Singh Negi, the former Students’ Union president. 

On being contacted, M Gangadhar, Inspector of Gachibowli police station said, “She said in her statement that she was going through psychological problems. It seems her parents took her to a psychologist for counseling.” It was due to depression that she did not perform well in CSIR exam, said a police officer, who recorded her statement, by quoting her.