The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, a global investment bank, is being felt rather strongly by the Indian Institutes of Technology.

At least 15 alumni of IIT-Kharagpur lost their job in the company’s move to file for bankruptcy. Sources at IIT-Kharagpur said: “We have come to know from our seniors at Lehman that 15 to 20 of our seniors have lost their jobs. The few who have not yet been informed will be packed off within two or three days. Talks are doing the rounds that many from Meryll Lynch will also be packed off, but we haven’t received any confirmation from our seniors at the company in this regard.”

When contacted, placement officer at IIT-Kharagpur Prof V K Mathur said: “It seems true, though we have not received any formal word from the company, nor is there any message from our students. Every year, Lehman Brothers picks up at least 10 IITians from Kharagpur alone. Some of the students got the job in the company last December and joined in June this year after completing their degree. We have been hearing about them, but they have not informed us about it.”

Speaking to Newsline on condition of anonymity, an IITian working at Lehman said: “The Mumbai office of Lehman is not closing down. But people are definitely losing their job, including IITians. Many of them are from Kharagpur.”

Similarly, at least 10 alumni of IIT-Kharagpur have lost their job, confirmed sources at the institute.

A third year student at the institute said: “Seniors who have been there for sometime were aware and switched over to other jobs. Nevertheless, at least 10 of our alumni from the last batch who joined in June this year lost their jobs.”

Nishikant Dhanuka, a student of IIT-Mumbai, who is also the placement nominee from the students’ side said: “Last year, four of our seniors joined Lehman. But we haven’t heard from them till now. Other previous batches’ seniors have been asked to look for new opportunities. They have not been asked to leave immediately.”

The students of IIT-Delhi are hearing that the company’s closure may affect their campus as well. They haven’t received any news from their pass-outs as yet.