Another Suicide in Kota: 20-Year-Old JEE Aspirant’s Death Raises Concerns

In a tragic turn of events, Kota, known as the coaching capital of India, witnessed yet another student suicide, with a 20-year-old JEE aspirant found dead in his room. This incident came just a day after a 19-year-old student was discovered hanging in his hostel room. Both students were preparing for the highly competitive Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), aiming for a spot in one of the country's top engineering colleges.

The latest victim, Abhishek Lodha from Guna, Madhya Pradesh, had been in Kota since last May, driven by his ambition to excel in the JEE. Despite being a diligent student, Lodha left behind a note expressing his despair over his inability to cope with the exam preparation. "I'm unable to study. I am preparing for the JEE exams, but it's beyond me. Sorry," his note conveyed. Lodha's family, grappling with grief, highlighted that he had never voiced any concerns regarding the pressure he was under. His uncle mentioned that Lodha always assured them that his preparations were on track, even during their last conversation before the tragic incident.

The evening prior to Lodha's death, another young aspirant, Neeraj from Haryana, was found in similar circumstances, despite the presence of an anti-hanging device in his room's fan. Neeraj's father, Babloo Prajapat, revealed that his son had plans to return home that very evening, raising questions about the effectiveness of safety measures in student accommodations. Prajapat, who has another son in Kota preparing for the medical entrance exam (NEET), has called for a thorough investigation into his son's death.

Kota attracts thousands of students from across India each year, drawn by its reputation as a premier coaching hub for competitive exams. However, the city has also become synonymous with a distressing trend of student suicides, posing a significant challenge for both mental health professionals and the administration. In response to these incidents, local authorities and the police are under pressure to implement stricter regulations on student accommodations, particularly concerning the installation of safety features like anti-hanging devices.

Mukesh Meena, the officer in charge at Vigyan Nagar police station, attributed the recent death to exam stress and announced plans to urge the administration to enforce better safety standards in paying guest accommodations. "It appears to be stress. We will write to the administration to take action against the PG accommodation as the room where the student died did not have an anti-hanging device in the fan," Meena stated.

Despite the grim scenario, there has been a slight reduction in the number of suicides within the student community in Kota. Last year, the figure dropped by 38% to 17, compared to 24 in the previous year. This decrease, albeit small, signals a potential shift in addressing the mental health crisis among Kota's student population. The recent incidents underscore the urgent need for comprehensive support systems that can help students navigate the pressures of competitive exam preparations.