Indian and Indian American students in various states across the country have been experiencing a tragic wave of deaths in 2024, causing alarm within the South Asian community. A total of seven young men, all 25 years old and under, have lost their lives under different circumstances, such as suicide, overdoses, going missing, and even being beaten to death. These incidents have left many individuals in both the U.S. and abroad seeking answers and grappling with a sense of unease.
The sequence of events began on Jan. 15, when two Indian-origin students were found dead in their residence at Sacred Hearts University in Hartford, Connecticut, due to accidental overdoses involving fentanyl. The trend continued with the subsequent deaths of Neel Acharya and Sameer Kamath at Purdue University in Indiana. Acharya’s body was discovered on campus after he went missing, while Kamath tragically died by suicide.
Following these incidents, the Indian American community faced another heartbreaking loss when freshman Akul Dhawan was found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. The circumstances of his death, occurring in subzero temperatures just 500 feet away from where he was last seen, added to the growing concerns surrounding student safety.
The troubling pattern of these deaths involving young Indian men has raised questions about mental health, pressure to succeed academically, and the overall well-being of students studying in the U.S. While the allure of an American education remains strong for many in India, the recent tragedies have led some families to reassess the safety and security their children may experience while pursuing higher education abroad.
Experts have noted that the competitive academic environment and the challenges of adapting to a new country can place significant stress on students, potentially leading to risky behaviors or mental health struggles. The community is left grappling with the larger implications of these tragedies and questioning whether universities provide adequate support and safety measures for their international students.
As concerns grow within the Indian community, there is a realization that alternative options for education abroad exist, offering a sense of security and comfort that may not be present in the U.S. While the number of Indian students seeking education in the U.S. remains substantial, individual families are reconsidering the risks associated with sending their loved ones to study in a foreign land.
The recent series of deaths among Indian students in the U.S. has brought to light the need for improved mental health resources, safety measures, and support systems within academic institutions. As the community mourns the loss of these promising young individuals, conversations around student well-being and the responsibilities of universities to ensure a safe learning environment are gaining momentum.