CHICAGO (TIP): Neel Acharya, an Indian student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, who was reported missing on social media by his mother Sunday, January 28, has been confirmed dead.
In an email written to the university’s computer science department Monday, interim CS head Chris Clifton informed students and faculty of Acharya’s death, according to a local newspaper.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students, Neel Acharya, has passed away,” Clifton wrote. “My condolences go out to his friends, family, and all affected.”
Clifton called Acharya a “driven individual and academically talented.” Acharya’s friend and roommate, Aryan Khanolkar, said he was a “loving, charismatic soul, and will be cherished by all of us.”
Acharya, who went to St. Mary’s School in Pune, was a double major in computer science and data science in the John Martinson Honors College. Clifton told the Exponent he received an email from the Office of the Dean of Students confirming Acharya’s death.
“A deceased person was found that matched Neel’s description and had Neel’s ID on (him),” he said.
On Sunday morning, a “college-aged” man was found dead near the Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories about 10:30 am. According to social media posts by users claiming to be close to Acharya, the student’s last known location was pinned in the same area the body was found.
The coroner has not confirmed whether Acharya was the man found near Zucrow that morning, which Robert Wang, a research assistant working at the lab, said had been found by a graduate student.
“It’s a shock,” Clifton said of Acharya. “A real loss to our community.”
Earlier, in a desperate plea, Gaury Acharya, Neel’s mother, posted about his disappearance on X, “Our son Neel Acharya has been missing since yesterday Jan 28 (12:30 AM EST) He is studying in Purdue University in the US. He was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off in Purdue university. We are looking for any info on him. Please help us if you know anything.”
The Consulate General of India in Chicago responded with assurances of support. “Consulate is in touch with Purdue University authorities and with Neel’s family. Consulate will extend all possible support and help,” it wrote.