A 25 year old postgraduate medical student was found dead in her hostel room at the Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Karnataka, sending shockwaves through the medical community and her hometown of Shivamogga.
The student, Pragnya Palegar, was pursuing an MD in Psychiatry and had joined the institute earlier this month. Police confirmed that she died by suicide and have launched an inquiry to understand the circumstances surrounding her death.
Pragnya joined the MD Psychiatry programme at DIMHANS on January 1, 2026, and had been staying in the institute hostel since then. On the morning of January 28, her roommate found her hanging inside their shared room and immediately alerted the college authorities.
The administration informed the police, who arrived at the scene and shifted the body for post mortem examination as per procedure.
Pragnya’s mother, Dr. Rekha, who is an anatomy professor, said her daughter had opted for psychiatry on her own and not under any pressure from the family. According to relatives, Pragnya had recently begun expressing that she was losing interest in the subject.
“She had taken up psychiatry by her own choice. When she said she was finding it difficult, we tried to reassure her that it takes time to settle into a new course,” her mother told TOI.
Her parents travelled to Dharwad to spend time with her and tried to reassure her that initial discomfort with a postgraduate course was common. They returned to Shivamogga a day before the incident, believing that she would gradually adjust.
Officials at DIMHANS said they were deeply shaken by the incident and claimed there were no visible signs that the student was under extreme distress. The institute stated that faculty members had not received any complaints from Pragnya during her brief time at the college.
DIMHANS Director Dr. Arunkumar C told TOI faculty members were unaware of any serious concerns. “She had joined the course recently and there were no indications that she was under extreme stress,” he said.
Dharwad Sub Urban police inspector P R Gangenahalli confirmed that a case of suicide has been registered. He said preliminary information suggests that the student was unhappy with her choice of subject, though investigations are continuing to ascertain all factors involved.
(Rh/ARC)
