A 25-year-old postgraduate medical student from Haryana died by suicide in the early hours of Wednesday inside her car near her institute in Dehradun’s Patel Nagar, police said.
The student, Tanvi, was pursuing a Master of Surgery (ophthalmology) at Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, where she had been studying for the past three years. She lived in rented accommodation in the city with her mother.
Allegations by family
Her father, an Ayurveda practitioner based in Ambala, has alleged that harassment by her head of department (HoD) drove her to take the extreme step.
According to him:
- The HoD, appointed about four months ago, allegedly pressured her to cut ties with her thesis guide and former HoD
- When she refused, citing academic requirements, she was allegedly given “zero” marks in duty logs despite a previously strong record
- She had reportedly complained about ongoing stress and harassment shortly before her death
The father said he grew concerned when she stopped responding to calls on Tuesday night. Reaching Dehradun around 3 am, he found her unconscious inside her locked car near a temple close to the hospital where she was on duty.
He broke open a window and rushed her to hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. The family has filed a complaint seeking action.
Police response
Police at Patel Nagar station confirmed receiving the complaint.
“A case is yet to be registered as we are verifying the allegations. Appropriate legal action will follow,” a police official said.
Investigations are underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident.
Institute’s statement
The institute said the student had been under treatment for mental health issues and had previously attempted suicide.
According to the management:
- She had two prior suicide attempts
- Her parents were aware and had arranged psychiatric treatment
- Documentation regarding her condition had been submitted to the hospital
In a subsequent statement, the institute said it had informed the Dehradun SSP and cautioned against “attempts to tarnish the image” of the hospital and its staff.
Ongoing investigation
Authorities are examining both the family’s allegations of harassment and the institute’s claims regarding her mental health history. Further action will depend on the findings of the inquiry.
If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out to a trusted person or a professional can help. In India, you can contact mental health helplines like Kiran (1800-599-0019) for support.
