NEET Aspirant Dies by Suicide Following Mental Distress Over Re-examination

Kottayam: A 19-year-old student preparing for the NEET examination died after an alleged suicide attempt at a private hostel in Cherpunkal, Kerala. The deceased has been identified as Aija R Mahesh, a native of Kadambar, Kasaragod district.

The student was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her hostel room on Tuesday afternoon by fellow residents, who immediately alerted the hostel authorities. She was brought down and was reportedly still showing signs of life. Hostel staff rushed her to a private hospital in Arunapuram for emergency treatment before she was shifted to another private hospital in Cherpunkal for advanced care.

Despite being placed on ventilator support, she succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday afternoon.

According to reports, the student had arrived at the coaching centre on May 26 for intensive preparation ahead of the re-conducted NEET examination, which is scheduled to be held on June 21 after the earlier examination results were cancelled following allegations of question paper leakage.

Sources indicate that she had been experiencing significant emotional stress due to the demanding nature of the coaching program. It is reported that she had informed her parents about the difficulties she was facing in coping with the academic pressure and continuing her studies.

Following the incident, her parents reached the hospital in Cherpunkal, where police recorded their statements. The body has been shifted to the mortuary of Kottayam Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Police have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.