- Surat university installs 354 spring-loaded fans in hostels to prevent suicides.
- Fans cut power and drop if a weight over 10 kg is applied.
- Initiative draws mixed reactions; critics say it ignores root causes.
Amid frequent student suicides across the country, a University in Gujarat's Surat has come up with a unique solution. The Veer Narmad South Gujarat University has installed 354 spring-loaded fans in its hostels to reduce student suicides. These fans have springs that get triggered when too much load is put on the fan. It then automatically switches the power off and brings it down, according to VNSGU Vice-Chancellor Dr Kishorsinh Chavda.
What Is The Cost Of These Fans?
As per a Dainik Bhaskar report, these are costly fans that are priced at Rs 1500 each. Therefore, the cost of 354 units will be around Rs 5.31 lakh. This is a first-of-its-kind installation in Gujarat.
ALSO READ: Gujarat: Husband Googles Suicide Laws, Then Kills Pregnant Wife With Family's Help; Arrested
How Do Suicide-Fans Work?
As already said, these fans are loaded with springs that get activated when a weight of more than 10 kg is put on them. It then cuts off the power supply, bringing the fan down.
VNSGU Vice-Chancellor explained the mechanism, the video of which has been widely shared on social media. In the video, he placed a bedsheet over a fan and put pressure on it. It activated the spring, and the video showed the fan coming down.
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🚨 A university in Gujarat is installing spring-loaded "anti-suicide" fans across its hostels. https://t.co/tXCm8voFHF
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) October 23, 2026
Will This Initiative Really Prove Helpful?
As soon as the video began circulating on social media, netizens were quick to point out whether it will really help to reduce student suicides.
The initiative gained a mixed response from social media users. While some believed it to be a safety measure, others pointed out whether the measure actually addresses the actual cause of student suicides.
One user wrote, "Some genius thought: Mental health is not the problem. Ceiling fan is the problem." Another commented, "Instead of doing such short term hacks, eliminate the root cause in the education system. Make the learning enjoyable with projects, activities, modular learning and passion driven pursuits instead of written exams, rote learning and giving stress to students.
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