The Purdue University community is grappling with grief following the confirmation of the death of Neel Acharya, a talented and driven student pursuing a double major in computer science and data science at the John Martinson Honors College. The news was officially communicated to the university’s computer science department in an email from interim CS head Chris Clifton on Monday.
In his email, Clifton expressed deep sorrow as he informed students and faculty about Acharya’s passing, stating, “It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students, Neel Acharya, has passed away. My condolences go out to his friends, family, and all affected.”
Describing Neel Acharya as a “driven individual and academically talented,” Clifton highlighted the significant contributions Acharya made within the academic community. The news of his death has left the campus community in shock and sorrow.
Acharya’s friend and roommate, Aryan Khanolkar, shared heartfelt sentiments about his late friend, calling him a “loving, charismatic soul” who will be cherished by everyone who knew him.
Neel Acharya’s life came to a tragic end on Sunday morning when a “college-aged” man was found dead near the Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories around 10:30 a.m. Social media posts from users claiming to be close to Acharya indicated that his last known location was in the vicinity where the body was discovered.
Chris Clifton received confirmation of Acharya’s death from the Office of the Dean of Students, stating that a deceased person matching Acharya’s description was found with his ID. However, the coroner has not officially confirmed whether Acharya was the individual discovered near Zucrow Laboratories that morning.
Robert Wang, a research assistant working at the lab, revealed that the deceased was found by a graduate student, creating a sense of shock and loss within the Purdue community. Clifton expressed his sentiments, saying, “It’s a shock. A real loss to our community.”
As the Purdue University community mourns the untimely passing of Neel Acharya, support and condolences are pouring in for his friends and family. The university will likely provide grief counseling and support services for those affected by this tragic loss.
The circumstances surrounding Neel Acharya’s death remain unknown as investigators and the coroner work to determine the cause.
Earlier A Twitter post was made by his parents informing he was missing.
