Overview

• Professor Indrajit Basak, critically injured in an April 16 lab explosion, passed away in a Delhi hospital on April 21 due to extensive burns covering 80–90% of his body.
• The explosion occurred during a thermite welding experiment outside the mechanical engineering department’s lab, also injuring student Akash Majhi, who sustained minor burns.
• NIT Durgapur has launched an internal investigation to determine the cause of the chemical leakage that led to the blast.
• All lab-based activities at the mechanical engineering department have been suspended indefinitely as safety protocols undergo review.
• The incident has raised broader concerns about laboratory safety standards at premier research institutions, highlighting the risks associated with high-stakes experiments.