18 year old JEE aspirant jumps to death from 6th floor of hostel

An 18-year-old JEE aspirant died by suicide in Kota, Rajasthan, adding to the grim toll of coaching-related suicides in the city this year. The student, Vivek Kumar, allegedly jumped from the sixth floor of his hostel in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar around midnight. He succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a local hospital, police reported on Saturday.

Vivek, a resident of Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, had been enrolled in a Kota coaching institute since April, preparing for the highly competitive Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). He lived alone in a hostel room, and no suicide note was found, leaving the reason for his drastic step unclear, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Yogesh Sharma.

Investigations have raised questions about the safety net installed on the balcony of the student’s room. The net was found nicked and damaged, prompting suspicions of intentional tampering. A forensic team has been deployed to examine the circumstances, and the exact condition of the safety net at the time of the incident remains under scrutiny, DSP Sharma said.

This incident has highlighted persistent concerns about the mental health challenges faced by students in Kota, often dubbed the coaching capital of India. Despite efforts to address the issue, this is the 16th suicide by a coaching student in Kota this year. Last year, the city recorded 26 such cases, emphasizing the urgency of systemic changes.

Authorities are awaiting the arrival of Vivek’s parents before conducting the postmortem. A case will be registered based on their statements, DSP Sharma confirmed.

The tragedy has sparked a renewed debate over the pressure cooker environment of Kota’s coaching culture. Experts and activists have called for better support systems, including psychological counseling and improved safety measures, to prevent such incidents in the future.