Harsh Sharma

MUMBAI: Left disappointed after a three-week intensive search with police for their son and IIT-Bombay student, his parents are now hopeful for at least a sign of his well-being.

The third year BTech student, Harsh Sharma (20), has been untraceable since he walked out of the campus on November 22.

Unable to cope with studies, he was undergoing treatment for depression and was allowed to stay with his parents on the campus for the last two and a half years. “He bagged the 448th all-India rank in JEE (Advanced), but could not cope with challenges that came at the institute few months after joining. The institute authorities have been helpful ever since. One family member was allowed to stay with him on the campus. He was undergoing treatment,” said Harsh’s father, Dinesh Sharma, adding that the sessions only helped him for few days. “We want to know if he is alright. Even if he doesn’t want to return, it will be his choice. But we care for his well-being and want him to be safe,” added Sharma.

Harsh had a problem with the education system in the country and believed that it needed an overhaul, said his father. He even took a drop of one semester, but came back to the campus. The family even told him to leave the course, but he was keen on returning.

“He was often aloof and in the last few days before he went missing, it seemed like he wanted to distance himself from us. But there was no clear sign,” said the father. Harsh missed his last exam on November 22 and was supposed to leave for Rajasthan, their hometown, for mid-term vacations, with his father. “He said he would come later with his hostel roommate and cancelled the trip. I was in the train when his roommate called at night to inform us that he did not return to the hostel,” said Sharma.

Harsh was seen leaving the campus at 4.34pm in CCTV footage at the campus entrance. A police complaint was filed the next day. Police spotted him at Kanjurmarg and Vikhroli stations after checking CCTV images from nearby locations two hours later on that day. After that there has been no sign.

The family has independently launched search operations and have covered over 40 police stations and many railway stations.

