A tragic incident at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Durgapur, West Burdwan, has claimed the life of Indrajit Basak, a 64-year-old professor of mechanical engineering, who succumbed to severe burn injuries on Monday in a Delhi hospital.
The explosion occurred during a laboratory research activity involving thermite welding, leaving the academic community in shock and raising serious concerns over campus safety protocols.
The incident took place on the morning of April 15, outside the mechanical engineering lab, where research was being conducted with students present.
According to NIT sources, a sudden explosion rocked the site, leading to a chemical spill that severely burned Basak and student Akash Majhi of Asansol. Two other students received minor injuries and were discharged after initial treatment.
Both Basak and Majhi were initially admitted to a private hospital in Durgapur in critical condition and later shifted to ICU.
While the student began to show signs of recovery, Basak’s condition deteriorated due to extensive burns covering nearly 90 percent of his body. He was flown to a hospital in Delhi via air ambulance but passed away on Monday during treatment.
Srikrishna Roy, chief public relations officer of NIT, Durgapur, expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. The entire NIT family is saddened and shocked. We are in discussion about how best to support the professor’s family during this difficult time,” he said.
Debabrata Hembram, a final-year student present during the incident, said the research was being conducted outside the lab when the explosion happened.
In the aftermath of the accident, serious questions have emerged regarding safety standards and preventive measures for both students and faculty members during high-risk research activities on campus.
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