SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 13: Dr Yashwanth Gujajal, assistant professor, department of mining engineering, IIT Indian School of Mines(ISM) Dhanbad, drowned to death in the swimming pool of the institution in the morning on Tuesday.
An official said that Dr Yashwanth along with some colleagues were swimming in the campus based pool at around 6.15 am. An eye witness colleague said he jumped in the pool but did not come out.
Having been delayed in coming out from water, his colleagues noticed it and immediately fished out. They got him admitted at IIT ISM health centre. IIT ISM director Prof Rajiv Shekhar, deputy director Prof Dhiraj Kumar and other senior authorities also reached there.
The doctors referred him to Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) where doctors declared him brought dead, The official said prima facie death looks due to drowning. “The real reason for it will be clear in the post mortem report,” he added.
The official said Dr Yashwanth Gujjal had joined IIT ISM Dhanbad in January 2023.
IIT iSM director Prof Rajiv Shekhar expressed deep shock over the tragedy. “ I and the entire institution are aghast over the unfortunate incident ( death of Dr Yashwanth Gujjala). He said he had no words to express condolence.
The official said following the death of Prof Gujjala all official functions in IIT ISM including the programme of union minister of state for education Annapurna Devi have been cancelled.
Dr Gujjala was a resident of Howrah ( West Bengal). He completed his BTech from Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) Shibpur, Howrah in 2009 and MTech in 2014. He completed his PhD from IIT Kharagpur in 2021.
He also worked as shift engineer in Hindustan Zinc Limited Vedanta.
