Hyderabad Tragedy: 19-Year-Old NEET Aspirant Dies by Suicide Ahead of Re-Examination Amid Alleged Academic Pressure
In a heartbreaking incident, a day before the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) re-examination, a 19-year-old medical aspirant was found dead in her apartment in Hyderabad’s Miyapur area on Saturday.
Police officials said the case appears to be one of suicide.
According to investigators, a handwritten note was recovered from the room. In the note, the young woman, identified as Sheikh Sana, reportedly stated that no one should be held responsible for her death and that she had taken the decision herself.
Sana’s parents are employed in Kuwait, while she had been residing in Hyderabad with her two younger sisters.
The family lived in an apartment in Miyapur, and the children’s maternal aunt, who resides nearby, regularly looked after them and attended to their needs.
Police said that on Saturday morning, the three sisters ordered breakfast through an online food delivery application and ate together.
Afterwards, Sana went to her room, saying that she wanted to study for the upcoming examination. She locked herself inside while her younger sisters, who study in Classes 10 and 6, continued with their day.
In the afternoon, the younger siblings knocked on Sana’s door to call her for lunch. When repeated attempts to get a response failed, concern grew among the family members. The matter was subsequently reported to the police.
The NEET re-test, which Sana was scheduled to appear for on Sunday, was announced after the original examination conducted on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a question paper leak.
The re-examination had become a matter of immense significance for thousands of students who had spent months preparing for one of India’s most competitive entrance examinations.
Police officials believe that Sana had been under considerable academic stress. Preliminary findings suggest that she died at around 1.30 pm, although the police were informed about the incident only later in the evening.
Investigators said that Sana had been preparing for the medical entrance examination for nearly a year.
According to police, the intense pressure associated with the highly competitive exam may have caused significant emotional and mental distress to the young aspirant.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the growing concerns surrounding the mental health challenges faced by students preparing for high-stakes competitive examinations.
In recent years, several suicides linked to academic pressure and NEET preparation have been reported from different parts of the country. Police believe this may be the first such case associated with NEET in Telangana.
Despite the immense pressure, Sana had been an academically bright student.
According to police officials, she had secured more than 90 per cent marks in her Intermediate examinations, reflecting both her dedication and academic potential.
Her untimely death has left family members, neighbours and the wider community in deep shock and mourning.
