16-Year-Old JEE Aspirant From Bihar's Nalanda Dies by Suicide in Kota, 13th Case This Year

Kota: Another student preparing for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) died by suicide in his paying guest room in Kota, on Thursday morning. The 16-year-old boy, named Sandeep Kumar hailed from Nalanda district of Bihar, was studying at a coaching centre in Kota for about a year. As per police, no suicide note was recovered. This year, Kota has witnessed 13 student suicide cases including this one. 

As per reports, the PG accommodation did not have an anti-hanging device installed. To prevent suicides in hostels and PGs, the authorities in August last year had ordered all hostels and paying guest accommodations to install spring-loaded fans (anti-hanging device) in all rooms. 

Mahendra Maroo, a local police officer, said that the student was found hanging from the ceiling fan at his paying guest accommodation. “...friends staying on the same floor knocked on his door several times...but got no response. Later, they informed the police and his younger brother who is also preparing for NEET but staying in a separate area in Kota,” said Maroo.

"The body has been sent for an autopsy. His parents were also informed. We will question them about any behavioural changes in him in the last few days,” he added.

In the year 2023, the total number of student suicides in Kota was 27, which is an alarming number. Talking about previous years, the police informed that 15 students died by suicide in Kota in the year 2022 while 18 such cases were recorded in 2019, 20 in 2018, seven in 2017, 17 in 2016 and 18 in 2015. However, no suicide cases were reported in 2020 and 2021 as coaching institutes in Kota were shut down during Covid-19 pandemic.