NEET takes another life, aspirant dies by suicide in Kilambakkam
Despite undergoing private coaching and writing the entrance test four times, a 21-year-old girl took the extreme step, as she was unable to score the required cut-off marks;
CHENNAI: The challenge of clearing the National eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has claimed one more life in the State. A 21-year-old aspirant in the city died by suicide on Friday, highlighting the pressure aspirants face while attempting to ace the test.
The deceased was identified as Devadharshini of Shastri Bhawan Street, Urapakkam. She’s survived by her parents, Selvaraj and Devi, who run a bakery in the locality.
Devadharshini had written the exam 3 times but was unable to score well, and meet the cut-off required to clear it. Having completed Class 12 in 2021, she appeared for the NEET exam for the first time, but her scores were nowhere near the required cut-off marks.
So, in 2023, Devadharshini joined a private academy in Anna Nagar and attended classes online and offline. Though she wrote the exam 3 times, cut-off marks continued to elude her.
Devadharshini was about to write the entrance exam for the 4th time in May and had been preparing hard for it. On Thursday evening, she returned home from the coaching centre looking dejected. Her father noticed this and told her to keep trying and not to lose hope.
On Friday evening, Devadharshini helped him at his bakery in Urapakkam. She told him that she wanted to use the restroom and left. Since she did not return to the shop for a long time, Selvaraj called her over the phone but his call went unanswered.
A concerned Selvaraj told his wife to check the house. When Devi reached their home, she found Devadharshini hanging from the ceiling using a saree. Hearing Devi’s screams, neighbours ran in and tried to soothe her but the mother was inconsolable.
Upon information, Kilambakkam police visited the spot, retrieved the body and sent it for post-mortem to Chromepet GH. A case has been registered and further investigation is on.
Devadharshini’s body was handed over to the parents after the post-mortem examination. The family is about to travel to their native place for the funeral.
(Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102)