New Delhi: A 17-year-old student, immersed in preparations for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to pursue undergraduate medical education, tragically ended his life by hanging in his hostel room in Kota, Rajasthan. This incident marks the 12th suicide reported in the coaching hub this year, highlighting the intense academic pressure students face.Found hanging from ceiling fan According to Dadabdi station house officer (SHO) Naresh Meena, the student, hailing from Jharkhand, was found hanging from a ceiling fan on Thursday afternoon. Concerns arose when the student did not respond to calls from his family since Wednesday night. Hostel authorities, upon realizing the student had not emerged from his room all morning, discovered the distressing scene upon forcibly entering his room.No suicide note found The deceased had been enrolled in a Kota coaching center for approximately two years, SHO Naresh Meena disclosed, emphasizing that it remains unclear whether the student had appeared for this years NEET examination or if recent results had contributed to his mental anguish. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, and the body has been sent for autopsy. Authorities have informed the parents and plan to question them regarding any behavioral changes noticed in the student recently.Safety guidelines in hostelsThe tragic incident has also raised questions about compliance with safety guidelines in hostels. We are investigating why the hostel did not have spring-loaded fans, as per district administration directives, SHO Meena stated. He affirmed that an inquiry against the hostel management will commence once the police submit their findings to the district collector.27 suicides in Kota last yearLast year, Kota witnessed 27 student suicides related to competitive exam pressures, prompting local authorities to mandate spring-loaded fans in all hostels and paying guest accommodations to provide mental support and enhance student security.Kota known for coaching industry Kota, renowned for its competitive exam coaching industry valued at ₹10,000 crore annually, draws students nationwide who seek intensive preparation for exams like NEET and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). Many students relocate to Kota soon after completing Class X, enrolling in residential coaching institutes while attending local schools mainly for certification purposes. This tragic incident adds to a disturbing trend among students preparing for competitive exams. Just earlier this month, a 17-year-old JEE aspirant from Bihar and an 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh had also taken their lives in similar circumstances.The district administration and coaching institutes are under increasing scrutiny to address the mental health challenges faced by students, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive support mechanisms in educational settings.NEET UG 2024 controversy Controversy erupted over grace marks awarded to compensate for lost time at six NEET-UG 2024 exam centers. The Centre informed the Supreme Court that these marks would be scrapped, offering 1,563 affected students the choice of a retest instead.
