Senior Resident Doctor Found Dead at AIIMS Rishikesh: Suspected Suicide Raises Mental Health Concerns

Tragic Incident at AIIMS, Ranchi

A 30-year-old senior resident doctor, Dr. Jagapathi Babu, who had been serving in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS Rishikesh for the past three years, was found dead in his hostel room on Monday, September 15, 2025. Preliminary investigations suggest suicide, though the exact cause of death will be confirmed after a postmortem.

Suspected Suicide Involving IV Medication

The incident came to light when AIIMS security personnel alerted local police after Dr. Babu failed to report for duty and was unresponsive to phone calls. Upon reaching the third floor of the AIIMS hostel, police found his room locked from the inside. After forcing entry, they discovered Dr. Babu lying unresponsive on his bed with an intravenous (IV) line inserted in his left arm. A suicide note was recovered from the scene, in which he reportedly expressed deep dissatisfaction with life and struggles balancing work pressures and personal wellbeing.

Health Complaints Prior to Incident

According to one of his colleagues, Dr. Babu had complained of abdominal pain on Saturday, two days before his death. However, it is unclear whether this health issue was related to the tragic incident.

A study titled “Prevalence of Stress Among Resident Doctors Working in Medical Colleges of Delhi” examined 930 resident doctors across four Delhi medical colleges between November 2007 and December 2008. The study found that 32.8% of residents experienced stress — 17.7% mild, 12.2% moderate, and 2.9% severe.

Researchers identified long duty hours, academic workload, financial constraints, and family issues as major contributors. The paper also noted that factors such as residency year, time spent with family and friends, job satisfaction, and peer support significantly influenced stress levels, underscoring the urgent need for structured mental health support for resident doctors. ¹

Mental Health Concerns Among Medical Professionals

This incident adds to a concerning pattern of mental health issues among medical professionals. A year ago, an MBBS student at AIIMS Raipur was found dead in a suspected suicide, with overdosage of drugs recovered from the scene. Such incidents highlight the pressing need for mental health support systems within medical institutions.

Institutional Response and Investigation

The police have initiated an investigation into Dr. Babu's death. The AIIMS administration has expressed deep sorrow over the incident and is cooperating with the authorities. The exact cause of death will be determined following the postmortem, and investigators are also reviewing his phone and digital records for further insight into his state of mind.

Reference

1. Saini, Nishchay, Sandeep Agrawal, S. K. Bhasin, and M. S. Bhatia. “Prevalence of Stress among Resident Doctors Working in Medical Colleges of Delhi.” Indian Journal of Public Health 54, no. 4 (2010): 213–16. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/50271100_Prevalence_of_stress_among_resident_doctors_working_in_Medical_Colleges_of_Delhi.

(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)