Kota Suicide: 19-Year-Old JEE Aspirant Found Dead In Hostel Room

A 19-year-old engineering aspirant allegedly took his own life in Kota, Rajasthan, on Tuesday night, according to a Times Now report. The student, identified as Neeraj Jat from Mahendragarh, Haryana, was found hanging in his hostel room at Anand Kunj Residency, located in the Rajiv Gandhi Nagar area. The hostel owner discovered the body during a routine check and immediately informed both the police and Neeraj's family.

According to police officials, Neeraj had been preparing for the JEE exam for the past two years. On the evening of the incident, he had gone out for dinner with a friend and showed no signs of distress. However, when the hostel staff conducted their nightly attendance check, they found him unresponsive. Upon looking through the window, they discovered his body hanging from a ceiling fan using a hook.

The body was moved to MBBS Hospital's mortuary for a postmortem, which will take place after Neeraj's family arrives. Neeraj's death is the first reported suicide in Kota this year. The city has been grappling with a growing number of student suicides. In 2024, there were 17 reported cases, a decrease from 26 suicides in 2023.

In response to this alarming trend, the former Gehlot government formed a committee in August 2023 to investigate the causes behind student suicides. The committee identified several contributing factors, including the lack of leisure time, academic pressure, separation from family, low confidence due to poor performance, high parental expectations, and financial or personal struggles. The authorities have yet to determine the exact reasons behind Neeraj's tragic death.