A cultural evening at Jadavpur University ended in shock and grief on Thursday night when the body of a third-year student from the English department was recovered from a campus lake.
The student, Anamika Mondal, 21, was pulled out of the water near Gate No. 4 around 10:30 p.m. She was rushed to KPC Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. What began as a night of music and celebration for students quickly gave way to panic and unanswered questions.
A Night of Celebration Turns Tragic
The Drama Club had organised a cultural programme on Thursday evening, drawing a large student crowd to the parking lot near Gate No. 4. The highlight of the evening was a performance by renowned Baul singer Gour Das and his troupe.
Anamika attended the event along with friends. According to multiple accounts, she was later seen by the lakeside, sitting and talking after the programme wound down. At some point during the night, her presence went unnoticed. Soon after, her body was discovered floating in the water near the union room adjacent to the lake.
Students and security staff rushed to help, pulling her out and attempting resuscitation. They tried clearing water from her lungs before taking her to hospital. Despite their efforts, she could not be saved.
Oversight in Focus: No CCTV, No Supervision
Two issues have now become central to the investigation.
First, the stretch of the lakeside where Anamika was found is a CCTV blind spot, it is not covered by CCTV cameras installed inside Jadavpur University. This means investigators have no visual record of how she ended up in the water. Critics argue that the absence of surveillance in a known student hangout is a glaring lapse in campus safety.
Second, questions are being raised over how the university permitted a late-night cultural programme to continue so close to the pond without extra precautions. Student groups have pointed out that with loud music and performances under way, any cry for help would likely have gone unheard. They are asking why no security or medical arrangements were in place during a large gathering that stretched late into the evening.
Together, the lack of surveillance and the decision to allow the programme without safeguards have drawn sharp criticism of the university’s administration.
A Family in Mourning, A Community in Shock
Anamika’s family reached the hospital late on Thursday night. Overcome with grief, they have demanded a full investigation. “We sent her here to study. We never imagined this would be the outcome,” a relative said, standing outside the hospital.
On campus, her classmates are still reeling. The English department, known for its active student life, was subdued on Friday morning. Classrooms were half-empty, with students gathering in small groups to discuss what had happened.
“She was a bright student, very articulate in class discussions. It is devastating to lose her like this,” said one of her professors. Another added: “The circumstances make it even harder. We don’t know if it was an accident, or something more.”
Student Groups Trade Accusations
The tragedy has quickly spilled into student politics. The Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) alleged negligence and called for stronger security measures, including round-the-clock CCTV coverage and a police outpost inside the campus. “This cannot be brushed aside as a mere accident. We have been raising these concerns repeatedly,” said TMCP state president Trinankur Bhattacharya.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) took a different line. National general secretary and JU alumnus Srijan Bhattacharya, while describing the incident as deeply saddening, criticised the TMCP’s response, calling it an example of a “political scheming mentality”. He urged that the investigation proceed without political point-scoring overshadowing the loss of a young life.
Safety at JU Under Scrutiny Again
This is not the first time safety at Jadavpur University has come under sharp scrutiny. In August 2023, the death of a first-year student after alleged ragging led to widespread protests, police investigations, and renewed calls for reforms in campus culture. At the time, students and faculty demanded better surveillance, stricter enforcement of rules, and stronger administrative oversight.
The latest incident has reopened those concerns. Jadavpur University Students on Friday circulated petitions demanding immediate safety measures, including improved lighting in secluded parts of the campus, trained emergency response teams for large gatherings, and clear guidelines for late-night events.
What Happens Next
Police officials confirmed that forensic experts would examine the lakeside site on Friday. The autopsy report will be critical in determining whether Anamika’s death was accidental or the result of foul play.
The university administration has said it will cooperate fully with the investigation. Pro Vice Chancellor Amitabh Dutta, who reached the hospital on Thursday night, told reporters: “We are awaiting the post-mortem report. The university will extend all necessary support to the family and the authorities.”
A Campus in Mourning
By Friday evening, students gathered by the lakeside where Anamika was last seen. The cultural stage had been dismantled, but in its place stood small clusters of students holding candles. The silence was heavy, broken only by quiet conversations.
“Many of us have spent nights here, sitting by the lake,” said a student from the science faculty. “Now it feels different. It will always remind us of her.”
For Jadavpur University, the questions remain pressing: how could a student’s life end so abruptly in the heart of the campus, and what steps must be taken to ensure that no such tragedy happens again? Until those questions are answered, the grief that hangs over the campus will not lift.
