PhD student found dead in Kerala Agricultural University Pond

A 25-year-old PhD student from Karnataka was found dead in a pond on the Kerala Agricultural University campus at Vellanikkara in the early hours of Saturday, prompting police to launch a detailed investigation.

The deceased was identified as Kishore Kumar Gowda, a first-year PhD student in the Department of Vegetable Science. He was staying at the university hostel. According to police, Gowda was found in a pond at the Fruit Crops Research Station on the university campus between 12.05 am and 1



am.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel retrieved him from the water and shifted him to Thrissur District Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at 2.50 am, they said. Police have registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, based on a complaint lodged by the assistant warden of the hostel where Gowda was staying.

 A detailed investigation is underway, and the inquest will be conducted after the student's family arrives from Bengaluru, police said.