• Ritwik Kundu, 26, was a first-year MD resident in the Department of Anaesthesiology at IMS-BHU and hailed from Hooghly district in West Bengal.
• Colleagues informed university authorities and police after he failed to report for classes and duty and could not be contacted on Sunday.
• Police said the exact cause of death will be established after post-mortem and forensic examinations, and a handwritten note recovered from the room is being investigated.
A 26-year-old resident doctor at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (IMS-BHU), was found dead in his room at Sushrut Hostel in Varanasi on Sunday night after colleagues alerted university authorities and police when repeated calls and messages went unanswered.
The deceased, identified as Ritwik Kundu, was a first-year MD resident in the Department of Anaesthesiology and hailed from Hooghly district in West Bengal. Uttar Pradesh Police said a handwritten note recovered from the room would be examined alongside other evidence, while the exact cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem and forensic analysis.
Colleagues last saw Ritwik Kundu on Saturday before he returned to his room at Sushrut Hostel. According to India Today, concern grew on Sunday night when repeated calls and messages went unanswered after he failed to report for classes and duty.
Fellow residents then informed the university's Proctorial Office and the police. After the room was opened, Kundu was found inside and was subsequently declared dead at a hospital. Police said a handwritten note was recovered from the room, and the forensic team collected evidence from the scene. The body was later sent for a post-mortem examination.
Lanka Police Station in-charge Rajkumar Verma told Dainik Bhaskar, "Upon receiving information from the Proctorial Board, the in-charge of Nagwan outpost was sent to the spot. A suicide note was found in the room, the contents of which will be investigated. The family members have been informed. Students living in nearby rooms have been questioned."
Also see: India’s Resident Doctors Are Dying by Suicide. It Is Time to Talk About Why
Police said the precise cause of Ritwik Kundu's death will be confirmed only after the post-mortem and forensic examinations are completed. While preliminary findings indicate a possible anesthesia overdose, officials have not reached a final conclusion.
A police officer told PTI:
"Preliminary investigation suggests that an overdose of an anaesthetic drug may have caused the death. However, the exact cause will be ascertained only after the post-mortem examination."
Investigators are also examining the handwritten note recovered from the room. Another officer told PTI:
"The handwriting in the note will be verified and examined along with other evidence as part of the investigation."
No official statement had been issued by IMS-BHU at the time of reporting.
The death of a young resident doctor has renewed discussions around the pressures faced by medical trainees, who often balance demanding academic schedules, clinical responsibilities, and long working hours.
Medical institutions across India have expanded counselling and peer-support initiatives aimed at supporting students and resident doctors during training.
Police said the exact circumstances surrounding Ritwik Kundu's death will be established after the post-mortem, forensic examination, and review of other evidence collected during the investigation.
(Rh/TP/MSM)
