Tragedy Strikes Kollam SAI Hostel as Two Students Found Dead
Police discovered two female students dead inside a Sports Authority of India hostel near Lal Bahadur Stadium in Kollam on Friday morning. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and sports circles.
Victims Identified as Promising Young Athletes
Authorities identified the deceased as Sandra, an 18-year-old sprinter from Kozhikode, and Vaishnavi, a 15-year-old kabaddi player from Thiruvananthapuram. Sandra had been living at the SAI hostel for four years while pursuing her Plus One studies. Vaishnavi joined the hostel about eighteen months ago as a Class X student.
Both girls attended private schools in the city and were described by teachers as academically bright students with promising sports careers.
Discovery of the Tragedy
The grim discovery occurred when the girls failed to report for their scheduled 5am training session. Hostel inmates and staff members went to check on them and found Sandra's third-floor room locked from inside.
Security personnel and trainers eventually broke open the door. They found both students hanging from ceiling fans inside the room. Other hostel residents reported seeing lights on in the room until approximately midnight.
Police Investigation Points to Suspected Suicide
Kollam East police conducted preliminary investigations that suggest suicide as the likely cause. Officers recovered suicide notes from the girls' pockets. These notes contained messages seeking forgiveness from their parents, though police have not disclosed further details about the contents.
A senior police officer stated that the exact reasons behind the deaths remain unclear. Investigators are currently recording statements from fellow students, SAI officials, and family members. Police have also recovered mobile phones belonging to the deceased for examination.
Recent Athletic Achievements
The tragedy comes just days after both students experienced sporting success. Vaishnavi's kabaddi team won a tournament at Kalluvathukal on Wednesday. Sandra had recently performed well in school athletic meets and the Amateur Association Championship.
Despite their athletic accomplishments, both young women faced challenges that ultimately led to this devastating outcome.
Postmortem and Legal Proceedings
Following an inquest led by the Kollam East circle inspector, authorities transferred the bodies to Medical College Hospital in Paripally for postmortem examination. Fingerprint experts thoroughly examined the hostel room as part of the investigation.
Police completed Vaishnavi's postmortem and released her body to relatives. Sandra's postmortem examination is scheduled for Saturday, with her funeral arrangements pending.
The Kollam East police station registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for unnatural death. Investigators continue their work to determine the complete circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking incident.
